From a small cardiac unit to 24 Medicover hospitals

Hyderabad: What began as a modest dream in 2010 has grown into one of India’s largest hospital networks today, spanning 24 facilities across four states with nearly 5,700 beds and over 12,500 employees.

Cardiologist, Dr G Anil Krishna, who graduated from Sri Siddhartha Medical College in 2002, recalls starting out with a three-month stint at a corporate hospital before venturing into hospital entrepreneurship. In 2011, he and three friends invested nearly Rs2 crore as minority partners in a cardiac unit, a project with a total investment of Rs8 crore.

The cardiac department proved to be a runaway success, eventually expanding into a dedicated cardiac hospital. In 2014, the group established a multi-specialty hospital in Madhapur, Hyderabad. However, in 2015, a split with the parent company forced the team to rebuild under a new brand. With resilience, they launched a 200-bed facility in Madhapur that laid the foundation for today’s hospital network.

Despite rapid growth, the journey was marked by challenges. “At one point, we were at rock bottom. We faced financial struggles, even delays in paying salaries, and dealt with the crises that come with running a healthcare business where life and death are at stake,” the founder Dr Anil Krishna said. The turning point came in 2017, when European-listed healthcare company Medicover invested in the group, taking a majority stake and strengthening its financial foundation.

Looking back, the doctor credits the journey to self-belief, loyalty, and perseverance. “From my medical college days, it was my dream to have my own hospital. The mantra is to believe in yourself, stay grounded after success, and never abandon those who stood by you during tough times—be it employees, investors, or partners,” he said.

Now, with an IPO on the horizon and expansion plans underway, the group is eyeing a new chapter of growth while staying rooted in the values that shaped its rise.