Dr.C.Palanivelu, Chairman, Gem Hospitals, was honored with the Life Time Achievement at Rotary International District 3234’s National Doctors’ Day celebrations for his pioneering contributions to minimally invasive and robotic gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

He was one of the 4 healthcare sector icons to receive this prestigious award at the award presentation ceremony that took place in Chennai, in the presence of Tamil Nadu Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Ma. Subramanian, recently.

Dr. H.V. Hande, former Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder & Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr V.S Natarajan, Geriatric medicine were honored with the award along with Dr.C.Palanivelu.

Rtn. Vinod Saraogi, District Governor, RI Dist. 3234 presented the Lifetime Achievement award & Citation to Dr. C. Palanivelu who is considered one of the legends in laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Palanivelu is credited with performing the world's first laparoscopic Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer and the first thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer landmark contributions that have revolutionized surgical oncology globally.

In his acceptance address, Dr. Palanivelu emphasized that cancer is no longer an incurable or untreatable disease. With advancements in diagnostic tools and surgical technology, early detection and complete cure are now possible for many cancers. He highlighted the transformative role of modern techniques in improving patient outcomes and long-term survival.

He highlighted that more than 50% of cancers are preventable by eliminating risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity, and poor lifestyle habits. Furthermore, early-stage cancers are now often completely curable, thanks to innovations in laparoscopic and robotic surgery, which offer enhanced precision through 10-20x magnification, better visualization of cancer tissue, minimal blood loss, and quicker recovery. These techniques not only improve long-term survival but also reduce recurrence.