Renowned Indian cardiac surgeon and Narayana Health founder Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty has been conferred France’s prestigious Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) for his critical assistance to the French community in Bengaluru during the Covid-19 pandemic. The distinction, which stands as France’s second-highest national honor behind only the Legion of Honour, was presented by the Consulate General of France during an official ceremony in Bengaluru on November 5.
The honor recognizes Dr. Shetty and the Narayana Health network for organizing dedicated vaccination drives and logistical healthcare support for the French Consulate and French nationals when the global health crisis severely disrupted medical services. Marc Lamy, the Consul General of France in Bengaluru, praised the surgeon’s efforts at the ceremony, stating that his unwavering support reflected the true spirit of solidarity and highlighted the enduring friendship between France and India.
In an official statement, Narayana Health noted that Shetty and the institution stepped forward during a period of unprecedented challenges, opening their doors to ensure essential medical aid reached the expatriate community. Established in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle, the National Order of Merit recognizes distinguished civilian and military service from both French citizens and foreign nationals across five distinct ranks, with the Knight designation serving as the foundational tier.
Born in Karnataka, Dr. Shetty earned his medical degrees from the University of Mysore before pursuing advanced cardiac surgery training in the United Kingdom, where he secured a fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. After working at Kolkata’s B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre, he founded Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru in 2000. Throughout his career, he has garnered international acclaim-including case studies by institutions such as Harvard Business School-for utilizing economies of scale to drastically lower the cost of specialized treatments, as well as helping develop Karnataka’s Yeshasvini micro health insurance scheme for rural farmers.
The French decoration adds to an extensive list of accolades for the veteran healthcare pioneer, who previously received India’s Padma Shri in 2004, the Padma Bhushan in 2012, and the Nikkei Asia Prize for Economic and Business Innovation. Unlike his earlier professional and entrepreneurial awards, this diplomatic honor specifically underscores how humanitarian cooperation and cross-border medical solidarity can reinforce bilateral ties during global emergencies.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/whos-devi-shetty-and-why-france-has-awarded-him-its-second-highest-national-honour-14058494.html
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Publish Date: 2026-11-07 08:25:00
