(August 19, 2021) Back in 2018 when Kerala was reeling under the devastating floods that claimed 483 lives, several establishments too had been ruined. One such was the government run primary health centre in Vazhakkad which recently received a new lease of life after Dr Shamsheer Vayalil stepped in to support the reconstruction. Rebuilt at a cost of ₹10 crore and was funded by the Kozhikode-born NRI businessman who is also the son-in-law of Lulu Group’s MA Yusuff Ali.
- Vayalil, a radiologist by qualification is the founder and chairman of VPS Healthcare, a leading healthcare service provider in GCC nations and in India, said that this was a community participation effort.
“We wanted all members of the community to be a part of the initiative. Experts from different fields, along with the local population, came together to make this endeavor a success.”
- The facility is the largest family health centre in India and the modern structure was developed by IIT-Madras and designed by students from the School of Architecture and Planning at Government Engineering College, Thrissur. Spread across 15,000 square feet, the health centre is eco-friendly and energy-efficient. It also has an open gym and a play area for kids while being disabled-friendly.
- In an interview with Times of India, this Global Indian said, “While businesses must build critical mass and grow revenues, they should also play an integral role in facilitating transformative changes in society. I believe that when you give, you grow, and this philosophy is integral to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of VPS Healthcare. We take immense pride in our community-centric initiatives that improve the lives of people.”
- Vayalil, whose VPS Healthcare is well known in India and abroad, is actively involved in philanthropy. He is a member of The Giving Pledge and has pledged to donate half his wealth for philanthropy. During the Nipah virus outbreak in 2018, VPS had donated emergency healthcare equipment worth ₹1.75 crore and he had also donated AED 26 million after the 2018 floods. In recognition of his community welfare initiatives, Vayalil was honored at an event in New York hosted by the United Nations. He has also donated to the UAE Red Crescent for Syrian refugees in the past.
