"M.V. Hospital for Diabetes Hosts Inaugural Prof. M. Viswanathan Centenary Award & Oration Ceremony"

Chennai, October 11, 2025: M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and the Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre hosted the inaugural Prof. M. Viswanathan Centenary Award and Oration, celebrating the legacy of Late Prof. M. Viswanathan, widely hailed as the Father of Diabetology in India.

(L to R) Dr. Banshi Saboo, Recipient of Prof. M. Viswanathan Centenary Award and Chairman of the International Diabetes Federation – South East Asia; Dr. S.N. Narasingan, DeanResearch Centre;Dr. A. Somasundaram, Director, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu; Dr. Vijay Viswanathan, President of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India; Dr. Jayashree Gopal, Associate Dean of the Research Centre

Dr. Banshi Saboo, Chairman of the International Diabetes Federation – South East Asia, delivered the keynote oration, attended by Chief Guest Dr. A. Somasundaram, Director, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu. Also present were Dr. S.N. Narasingan, Dean, and Dr. Jayashree Gopal, Associate Dean of the Research Centre, along with Dr. Vijay Viswanathan, President of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India, and other dignitaries.

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Dr. Saboo highlighted India’s significant burden of type 1 diabetes, with over 941,000 patients, including 301,000 children and adolescents under 20. Emphasizing the importance of lifelong management, he pointed to advances such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems that offer hope for a better quality of life for young patients.

Chief Guest Dr. Somasundaram paid tribute to Prof. Viswanathan’s groundbreaking contributions to diabetes care and outlined Tamil Nadu's efforts to improve access to chronic disease management, particularly in underserved communities.

Dr. Vijay Viswanathan shared that over 500 children and adolescents are currently being treated at M.V. Hospital's branches in Royapuram, South Chennai, and Bangalore. He reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to holistic diabetes care and thanked Dr. Saboo for his impactful oration.

During the event, Dr. Narasingan felicitated Dr. Somasundaram, while Dr. Gopal presented a citation to Dr. Saboo. The gathering included senior healthcare professionals, government officials, and members of the public.

Prof. M. Viswanathan, who established India’s first diabetes clinic in 1948 and founded M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in 1954, is remembered for his pioneering work that laid the foundation for modern diabetology in India.

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