(January 29, 2026) The conferment of the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour, marks a significant moment in Dr Vijay Anand Reddy’s long and distinguished career in oncology. Recognised among the 45 unsung heroes across India, and one of seven from his home state of Telangana, the award acknowledges decades of service defined by consistency, compassion, and clinical excellence.
A veteran oncologist with academic training from globally reputed institutions, Dr Reddy brings over three decades of clinical experience to his practice. Over the years, he has treated more than 20,000 cancer patients, achieving an exceptional success rate of 85 percent. Yet beyond numbers and milestones, what continues to distinguish him is a genuine fondness for being with his patients—an approach that places empathy alongside expertise.
Throughout his career, three qualities have consistently shaped Dr Reddy’s work: an enduring sense of inquisitiveness, a commitment to innovation, and a restless determination to achieve better outcomes for every cancer patient. Reflecting on the recognition, the Director and Senior Consultant Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, tells Global Indian, “This award feels like a gentle reminder that service, when done with sincerity, never goes unnoticed.”
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A lifelong commitment to service
From raising funds across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad for victims and refugees after the Indo-Pak war of 1971, to volunteering for relief work following the devastating floods that ravaged Andhra Pradesh decades ago, to saving thousands of lives with his medical expertise — Dr Reddy’s journey is a deeply inspiring one. Importantly, he has never lost sight of the social dimension of the medical profession. His patients often walk in with fear, anxiety, or despair. “My mission is to ensure they walk out feeling lighter, reassured, and hopeful,” he says.
A collective honour
Dr Reddy says every recognition he has received so far has been encouraging, but the Padma Shri has been especially humbling. “Because it comes not from an institution, but from the nation itself,” says the oncologist, who specialises in head and neck malignancies and ocular oncology, but has treated almost every type of cancer over the past two decades. What makes the honour particularly meaningful for him is that it acknowledges not just clinical excellence, but service to humanity.
He sees it not as a personal milestone, but as a reflection of the collective work of his teachers, colleagues, hospital staff, patients, and the countless families who trusted him during their most vulnerable moments. “My work has always been guided by love, care, and compassion. To have that philosophy recognised at a national level reassures me that empathy in medicine is as important as expertise, and that gives this award a very special place in my heart.”
The deepest satisfaction, he says, comes from service — from knowing that his work has eased someone’s suffering, saved a life, or restored dignity during illness. “Titles and awards may come and go, but the blessings of patients and their families stay with you forever. That, to me, is the greatest reward of being a doctor.”
Healing beyond hospitals
The renowned oncologist says the award belongs as much to his patients as it does to him, especially the children and underprivileged families he serves through his CURE Foundation.
Founded in 2003, the CURE Foundation has become a beacon of hope for underserved cancer patients across India. “Many of them fight cancer with extraordinary courage despite limited means. If this recognition brings attention to their struggles and hopes, then it has true meaning for me,” says Dr Reddy.
A full member of major international organisations including the American Society of Medical Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, and the European Society of Medical Oncology, Dr Reddy has always believed that access to care should not be dictated by privilege. The CURE Foundation provides free and subsidised treatment, cancer screenings, and conducts awareness programmes, particularly for children and vulnerable communities. Over the years, it has impacted the lives of more than 1,700 patients.
Dr Reddy is also deeply involved in supporting terminally ill patients through his association with Sparsh Hospice. As both a major donor and board member, he has helped ensure that patients in the final stages of cancer receive comfort, dignity, and compassionate care during their last days.
Prevention, awareness, and early intervention
For Dr Reddy, cancer prevention, early detection, and equitable access to treatment remain closest to his heart, particularly childhood cancers and tobacco-related cancers. “There is a need for compassionate palliative care, and this deserves far greater public awareness,” says Dr Reddy, who has served as guest faculty at more than 300 CME programmes and has over 60 publications to his credit, reflecting the depth of his scholarship.
Cancer, he believes, is not merely a medical disease. “It affects families emotionally, socially, and financially. We must address all these dimensions. Tobacco remains one of the most preventable causes of cancer in our country,” he says, underlining the urgent need to protect future generations through education, policy, and sustained public commitment.
Using recognition to amplify impact
So how does he plan to use this moment of national recognition? “I hope this honour allows me to amplify the message that cancer care should be accessible, affordable, and compassionate,” says Dr Reddy. He aims to strengthen public awareness campaigns, advocate more strongly for anti-tobacco measures, and expand support for free cancer treatment for children. “If this recognition opens more doors for collaboration and collective action, I will consider it a true success.”
Where fulfilment truly lies
What fulfils him the most is seeing hope return to a patient’s eyes. “Even today, when a patient walks out of my clinic feeling reassured, respected, and cared for, that moment matters more than any award,” says Dr Reddy, who ensures that every patient feels heard, supported, and valued before leaving his office.
Rooted in the soil, driven by service
Dr Reddy had every opportunity to settle in London or the United States, where he trained and excelled as a medical professional. But the son of a farmer, who worked in his father’s paddy fields and endured numerous hardships to pursue his education, always knew he would return home to serve his country.
Born in Hyderabad, he grew up in the unassuming hamlet of Palamuru in Mahbubnagar district, his father’s native place. He studied at Raman Institute, Mahbubnagar, until Class 2. From Class 3 to Class 6, he attended MBC High School, where academics came naturally to him. The third of four sons, he made full use of the privilege of English-medium schooling, consistently performing exceptionally well. “I always secured the top rank,” says Dr Reddy, who received a rare double promotion from Class 4 to Class 6 in recognition of his academic excellence.
His father, an advocate and agriculturist, was known for his integrity, straightforwardness, and unwavering principles. “My mother, a dedicated homemaker, was the gentle force who instilled in us compassion, humility, and emotional strength.”
Excellence from an early age
Discipline, hard work, truthfulness, and respect defined the atmosphere at home, and these values stayed with Dr Reddy for life. “Those early years in a close-knit family shaped the foundation of my values — education, sincerity, discipline, and service,” he recalls.
He later moved to Hyderabad and joined Nrupatunga School in Class 7. He completed his Class 10 board examinations with first-class distinction, scoring a perfect 100 out of 100 in Mathematics. It was an achievement that became a celebrated moment at school and even made local news. “I loved mathematics and physics, subjects that allowed me to apply logic and reasoning,” he says.
A father’s guidance, a life’s calling
Interestingly, Dr Reddy had initially aspired to become an engineer. It was his father who motivated him to pursue medicine. “Respecting my father’s dream, I chose biology over engineering — a decision that would define the course of my life,” says Dr Reddy, who passed his Intermediate examination with distinction and cleared the EAMCET.
Rising through merit and resolve
He pursued his MBBS at Osmania Medical College on merit, receiving a scholarship of ₹1,000, along with state government aid of ₹25 per month for students from agricultural backgrounds, and additional support from the Nizam’s Trust at Purda Gate. After completing his MBBS with distinction, he joined government service as the first medical officer at Bhootpur Primary Health Centre. Over three years, he worked tirelessly to improve the small facility, often spending from his own pocket to strengthen healthcare services for the local community.
Learning abroad, serving at home
Despite warnings about the challenges and high mortality rates associated with oncology, Dr Reddy enrolled in a three-year MD programme in Radiation Therapy. He later joined the MNJ Institute as an assistant professor immediately after completing the course. Before he left for advanced training in London, his father offered advice that became the moral compass of his career. He encouraged Dr Reddy to go abroad only to learn, not to settle.
“He told me never to chase money as it would follow if I excelled. He asked me to focus on patient satisfaction, and above all, uphold ethics,” recalls Dr Reddy. Importantly, his father urged him to recommend to patients only what he would advise his own family.
Forged by global expertise
Dr Reddy’s scholarship and work have earned him several international fellowships, including the Clinical Oncology Fellowship at the Meyerstein Institute of Clinical Oncology, London; the Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation Fellowship at New York Hospital; the Head and Neck Oncology Fellowship at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne; and the Ocular Oncology Fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital and Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia.
He also received a neuro-oncology fellowship at the Heidelberg Cancer Center in Germany and a proton therapy fellowship at the Quirónsalud Proton Center in Madrid, Spain.
Breaking new ground in Indian oncology
A trailblazer in Indian oncology, Dr Reddy conducted the first interstitial implant for glioma in India. He also performed the country’s first ultrasound-guided interstitial implant for prostate cancer, significantly improving accuracy while minimising invasiveness.
Dr Reddy pioneered short-course radiation protocols for prostate and breast cancers, reducing treatment burden while maintaining exceptional precision and safety. He has performed the highest number of stereotactic radiosurgery procedures in India. He has also introduced multiple innovations in the management of brain metastases, including customised radiosurgery techniques that improved control rates and patient quality of life.
“These achievements are not just milestones. They reflect a lifelong commitment to elevating cancer care in India,” says Dr Reddy, for whom innovation has never been about personal recognition, but about giving every patient a better chance at survival, dignity, and hope.
A passion for prevention and public awareness
Beyond clinical practice, Dr Reddy supports several orphanages and educational institutions. Championing cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment awareness has been his enduring passion. A leading figure in India’s anti-tobacco movement, he has worked tirelessly to highlight the dangers of tobacco use which is a major contributor to lung and oral cancers. Over the past 33 years, he has spearheaded more than 72 impactful cancer awareness initiatives, inspiring communities towards a healthier, cancer-free future.
Giving voice to survivors
In addition to his medical and philanthropic contributions, Dr Reddy has authored a powerful book titled I Am a Survivor, which chronicles the true stories of 108 cancer survivors, capturing resilience, hope, and the strength of the human spirit.
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