Renowned cardiac surgeon, developer of low-cost heart valves Dr M S Valiathan passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan and founding director of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram passed away at Manipal in Karnataka on Wednesday night. He was 90.

Dr M.S Valiathan was a former President of the Indian National Science Academy and the first Vice Chancellor of Manipal University. 

He was instrumental in developing low-cost prosthetic valves, disposable blood bags and oxygenators and integrated traditional and modern medical treatment systems.

Dr Valiathan was born on May 24, 1934 in Mavelikkara, Alappuzha. He graduated from the first batch of Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram and later attended the University of Liverpool as a surgical trainee and received his fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and England in 1960 and master's degree in surgery from the University of Liverpool.

He served on the faculty of the Georgetown University Hospital, PGIMER, IIT Madras and as director of SCTIMST. Subsequently, Valiathan became the first Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University in 1994.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said Valiathan was Kerala's greatest contribution to the world of medicine.

"He was a popular doctor who pioneered the integration of traditional and modern medical treatment systems. Valyathan's efforts to study and research Ayurvedic medicine while having knowledge of modern medicine were based on the conviction to utilise the potential of the general healthcare sector for the betterment of society," he said.

The chief minister added that the Sree Chitra Institute gained prominence due to the leadership of Valiathan.

Vijayan said the distinguished works by Valiathan on Ayurveda -- The Legacy of Caraka, The Legacy of Susruta and The Legacy of Vagbhata -- were penned with the intention of making the common people understand the possibilities of Ayurveda.  

"Apart from Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, recognitions from America and France have also reached him," the chief minister said, adds news agency PTI.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described Valiathan as one of India's greatest cardiac surgeons.

"The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology in Thiruvananthapuram and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education are two institutions that are a tribute to his vision and contributions," Ramesh said in a post on 'X'.

Ramesh added that in later years, Valiathan devoted himself to advancing the scientific foundations of Ayurveda and wrote a very valuable book called 'The Legacy of Caraka'.  

"He came to Ayurveda from the field of modern science and believed that the two can and must be made to converge," the Congress leader said. 

Dr Valiathan's contributions to medical sciences and technology brought him many honours and awards such as the Fellowships of the IAS, INSA New Delhi, NAS India, NAMS, INAE, The World Academy of Sciences, American College of Cardiology, the Royal College of Physicians of London and the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials and Engineering.