Born and educated in Chennai, Ravi Kannan completed his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tambaram. He earned his MBBS degree from Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, followed by an MS in General Surgery from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. He later specialised in Surgical Oncology by obtaining an MCh from the prestigious Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai. During his early medical career, he served at the Cancer Institute, Adyar, where he eventually became the Head of the Department of Surgical Oncology.

A turning point came in 2006 when Dr. Ravi Kannan visited the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) in Silchar. During his visit, he realised that thousands of cancer patients in Assam and the Barak Valley lacked access to timely diagnosis and quality treatment. Motivated by the urgent need for specialised healthcare, he made the life-changing decision to relocate permanently to Assam in 2007 with his family and became the Director of CCHRC.

When he assumed leadership, the hospital was a small charitable institution with limited facilities and manpower. Under his guidance, it evolved into a comprehensive cancer hospital and research centre with multiple specialised departments including surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, microbiology, epidemiology, tumour registry, palliative care, and preventive oncology. The hospital now serves thousands of new cancer patients every year while providing long-term follow-up care for many more.

Dr. Ravi Kannan introduced a people-centred healthcare model that focused on removing financial barriers to treatment. Patients from economically weaker backgrounds receive free or highly subsidised cancer treatment, while the hospital also provides accommodation, nutritious food, counselling, palliative care, and livelihood support for family members whenever possible. His team also established home-based palliative care programmes, allowing patients in remote villages to receive medical guidance without travelling long distances.

Apart from patient care, Dr. Ravi Kannan has actively promoted cancer awareness, early detection, screening programmes, community outreach, and cancer research throughout Northeast India. His efforts have significantly improved treatment compliance and survival outcomes among cancer patients in Assam. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he successfully managed both cancer treatment and COVID care, ensuring that critically ill patients continued receiving uninterrupted medical services.

His remarkable humanitarian work has received widespread appreciation. In 2020, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri for his contribution to medicine. In 2023, he received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, regarded as Asia's highest civilian honour, in recognition of his commitment to providing equitable and compassionate healthcare. Earlier, he was also honoured with the Mahaveer Award in Medicine for his dedicated service.

Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Ravi Kannan has inspired healthcare professionals across India by proving that world-class medical care can be delivered even in underserved regions through compassion, innovation, and community participation. His vision continues to strengthen cancer care infrastructure in Assam while encouraging decentralised treatment facilities in other parts of Northeast India.

Today, Ravi Kannan R is regarded as one of the most influential healthcare leaders associated with Assam. His lifelong mission to make cancer treatment accessible, affordable, and dignified has transformed countless lives and established him as an enduring symbol of service, humanity, and medical excellence.

Early Life

• Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Completed schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tambaram.
• Developed an early interest in medicine and public healthcare.

Education

• MBBS - Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai
• MS (General Surgery) - Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
• MCh (Surgical Oncology) - Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai

Career

• Surgical Oncologist at Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai.
• Former Head, Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute, Adyar.
• Director, Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC), Silchar, Assam (since 2007).
• Led the transformation of CCHRC into one of Northeast India's leading comprehensive cancer hospitals.
• Promoted affordable cancer treatment, cancer awareness, research, palliative care, and community healthcare across Assam.

Major Achievements

• Transformed Cachar Cancer Hospital into a comprehensive cancer treatment and research centre.
• Introduced free and subsidised treatment programmes for economically weaker patients.
• Improved cancer awareness and early diagnosis across Northeast India.
• Expanded hospital infrastructure, specialist departments, and community outreach services.
• Successfully managed cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Internationally recognised for humanitarian healthcare initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

• Ramon Magsaysay Award (2023)
• Padma Shri (Medicine) - Government of India (2020)
• Mahaveer Award in Medicine (2013)
• Widely recognised for excellence in public healthcare and cancer treatment.

Positions Held

• Director, Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC), Silchar
• Former Head, Department of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, Chennai
• Surgical Oncologist
• Cancer Researcher
• Public Health Advocate

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