It was as if one part of the Indian PM’s anatomy almost held the country to ransom. But he survived the US trip. And the decision to have the knee operated germinated there. Dr Chittaranjan Ranawat of the US was specially flown to India to operate upon the PM’s knee. Kishore Kumar Malviya of Zee News caught up with this busy surgeon. Q. Dr Ranawat, how long will the PM take to recover fully?
A. In 2-6 weeks he will be able to walk. To recover fully it will take around 4-5 months.
Q. How is his other knee?
A. There is no need for operation. Q. Doctor, you have seen a lot of VIP patients. Do you find any difference between a general patient and a VIP patient?
A. For a VIP patient tremendous amount of thinking and planning is required. Although the treatment and the operation is equal for both kinds of patients.
Q. Why is it that for a general patient that tremendous amount of thinking and planning is not required?
A. Their demand is less. VIPs have to talk a lot. They need to work more than the others. And, they have more demand.
Q. Don’t you think the condition of medical science has changed a lot today than what it was thirty years back? A. Yes, it is much better. But, it can be much better than the prevailing condition. And, this will be….as time goes by.
Q. How can the condition be improved? Is it that we lack political will or something else?
A. Most good things require economics. Economics requires financing. Financing requires private and government sector or both.
Q. Dr Ranawat you are an Indian staying abroad. You came from outside and operated the Indian PM. Don’t you think it is a big question mark on the Indian medical system that in such a large country there is not a single doctor who can perform knee surgery on the PM? A. There are a lot of good surgeons in India. Choosing a surgeon is a difficult task. This is because generally, close friends of the patients, who are doctors, refer the patients to the surgeons, with whom they have contacts. In my opinion it does not reflect bad on them.
Q. So, what was the reason behind contacting you to fulfill this task? Did you have some acquaintance with anyone in the BJP circle or did any of the PM’s friend referred him to you?
A. I neither know the Indian PM, nor any of his party members. Maybe the doctor who referred him to me, know me. Q. Dr Ranawat, why did you choose Breach Candy Hospital only?
A. Every year I come to India. And have been in Breach Candy many a times. I have also done some operations in this hospital. So, naturally I was quite comfortable here and also I am familiar with it. Q. So, when you told about your preference for Breach Candy to the Indian PM, did he accept the proposal at once? Didn’t he mention the premier institute of India- AIIMS?
A. I should say that the PM is one of the best persons. He relied fully and wholly on my judgement.
Q. Do you think the premier institute of India- AIIMS, does not have enough facilities?
A. AIIMS has a big reputation. It’s a big institution. But all it’s arms are perhaps not developed equally. Q. Why do you think it is like this?
A. I don’t know the answer. Private sector in every free country provides more quality in general. The truth may lie therein.
Q. Dr Ranawat, it is said about you that you are a doctor of VIPs only because your fees is so high that an ordinary man just can’t afford it.
A. Not true. I take care of all kinds of people, rich and poor, VIP and non-VIP. In US clinic patients are specially treated, and clinic patients means- patients with no resources. I still do it. Q. Dr Ranawat, you must have taken fees from Vajpayeeji
A. No, I didn’t charge even a penny from the premier.
Q. Why?
A. It’s my pleasure and honour to give something in return to my country.
Q. what about Soli Sorabjee? A. No, not a single penny. Both of them are government officials, and both of them get my service free of cost just because I was born and brought-up in India.
Q. Do you miss Indore, your place of birth? Does it come back to you?
A. Schooling, college education, post graduation, medical education- all of it I received in Indore. So, yes I think about Indore at times. Q. Do you go to Indore?
A. I go there. My brother and sister are still there.
Q. Who is your next VIP patient?
A. That I also don’t know.
Q. Do you have some in the waiting list? A. Yes, there are many. It’s not good to name them before you take care of them. But I can name the ones who have been in my care- Mr Pavarotti, secretary of treasury, many ice hockey players. I have several of them.