Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, Father of Angioplasty in India, Passes Away at 77

Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, Father of Angioplasty in India, Passes Away at 77

April 18, 2025 – Chennai:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Padma Shri Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, a pioneering force in Indian cardiology and the Father of Angioplasty in India. He passed away on April 18, 2025, in Chennai after a brief illness. He was 77.

Dr. Kalarickal transformed the landscape of cardiac care in India, performing the nation's first angioplasty in 1986. With unwavering dedication, he went on to establish cardiac catheterisation laboratories not only across India but throughout the Asia-Pacific region—including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the UAE, Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Born on January 6, 1948, in Kerala, Dr. Kalarickal graduated from Kottayam Medical College before pursuing his specialization in cardiology in Chennai. He further honed his expertise in the United States under Dr. Andreas Gruentzig, the global pioneer of angioplasty. Returning to India in 1985 with a deep moral resolve to serve his people, he introduced angioplasty to the country—starting with just 18 patients in 1986. Within a year, that number had grown to 150, signaling the dawn of a new era in Indian cardiac care.

Reflecting on his journey, he once said,
“The enormous satisfaction I derive from the achievement of establishing angioplasty in the country is beyond what money can buy.”

Dr. Kalarickal was more than a skilled doctor—he was a mentor, a visionary, and a beacon of integrity in medicine. Recalling their long association, Dr. Ajit Menon, Director of Cardiac Sciences at HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Senior Consultant at Lilavati Hospital, said:
“I have been Dr. Mathew Samuel’s mentee since 1990—that’s 35 years. He not only taught us the art of interventional cardiology but, more importantly, ethics, etiquette, empathy, and a sense of service to patients. For him, patients always came first, however compelling the circumstances. It’s true—there can never be another Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal in our lifetime. We will all miss his presence, his smile, and his energy in the cath lab.”

His accolades reflect the depth of his contributions:

• Padma Shri, 2000

• Dr. B.C. Roy Award, 1996

• D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) from Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, 2003

• President of the Asian-Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology (1995–1997)

Dr. Kalarickal continued to serve with distinction at Apollo Hospitals (Chennai), Lilavati Hospital, and Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital (Mumbai). To his colleagues and mentees, he was a source of inspiration—a doctor whose compassion matched his clinical brilliance.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bina, and his cherished children and grandchildren: Sam, Merin, Anna, Tajar, Mathew, George, Benjamin, Neil, and Susan.

A memorial service will be held at Chetpet Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Church, Chennai, on April 19, followed by the funeral at St. Peter’s Mar Thoma Church, Kottayam, Kerala, on April 21 at 3:00 PM.

Dr. Kalarickal’s legacy is etched not only in the annals of medical history but in the hearts of the countless lives he touched—with compassion, courage, and unwavering dedication.