Dr M G Pillai an Interventional Cardiologist for the last 22 years has treated more than two lakh poor and needy patients for free. This Versova resident performed the first Angioplasty in Mumbai along with Dr Mathew in 1988, and has been doing 15 to 20 such operations per month. Explains Dr Pillai, “I have never refused to treat a poor patient. In fact, I give them first preference. I have not forgotten my roots.” From Angioplasty to Heart surgery, Dr Pillai doesn’t charge anything if a patient is poor and cannot afford to pay for the operation.
Even today, Dr Pillai has dedicated three days of free service, which includes, free medical camps and surgeries to St Gregorous Hospital in Parimala village of Kerala. He also visits Kim’s hospital and Royal hospital at Trivandrum, Kerala and gives free service. Says Dr Pillai, “The medical industry woos a doctor with everything, I do not believe in this and hence I don’t attend medical conferences. I have therefore not had my own hospital, as I believe that I will lose my time and energy towards the hospital activities and will not be able to give my 100 percent towards my patients.”
Dr Pillai has his free OPD at Nanavati and BSES hospitals, thrice a week. When asked about the rise in heart ailments, especially amongst today’s youth Dr Pillai says, “People’s lifestyle has changed, today nobody wants to walk, which is a great exercise for heart. Food consumption has increased, and sedentary lifestyles have increased the occurrence of cardiac ailments. Use of tobacco and alcohol related products has also gone up, which directly affects the heart.” According to Dr M G Pillai we can remain fit by exercising four days a week.
For a healthy heart one needs:
• Exercise four days a week, could be any form of exercise
• Always walk as much as you can
• Eat healthy and burn as many calories as possible
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• Night sleep for at least seven hours
