India’s renowned cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, has been conferred France’s prestigious Knight of the National Order of Merit for extending support to the French community in Bengaluru during the COVID-19 pandemic. The honour recognises the medical assistance, vaccination initiatives and logistical cooperation provided by Dr Shetty and his healthcare team at a time of extraordinary uncertainty.
The distinction, formally known as the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite, was presented by the Consulate General of France in Bengaluru at a ceremony held on November 5, 2026, at Narayana Health City. The French Republic recognised Dr Shetty for his generosity, availability and commitment to the French Consulate and the wider French community in the city during the pandemic. The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported the conferment, while Narayana Health also disclosed the recognition to stock exchanges.
According to the organisation, Dr Shetty and Narayana Health opened their doors to the French Consulate and members of the French community, supporting vaccination programmes and providing essential logistical assistance. The gesture reflected cooperation between healthcare institutions and diplomatic representatives as countries and communities navigated the public-health emergency.
Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, said the recognition acknowledged Dr Shetty’s generosity and unwavering support, adding that his actions represented solidarity and the enduring friendship between France and India. In response, Dr Shetty said the assistance was about standing together and helping one another during a difficult period, and expressed gratitude to the Narayana Health teams who made the work possible.
What is France’s National Order of Merit?
The Ordre national du Mérite is one of France’s two national orders of distinction. Established on December 3, 1963, by President Charles de Gaulle, it recognises distinguished service and contributions by French citizens as well as foreign nationals, across civilian and military fields and in public and private life.
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The order ranks below the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national order, and is commonly described as the country’s second-highest national order of distinction. It has five grades: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross. Dr Shetty has received the grade of Knight — Chevalier in French — a formal state distinction recognising service considered to have benefited the nation or its relationships. The order is not the same as the Legion of Honour, and the honour conferred on Dr Shetty is specifically the National Order of Merit.
The recognition also highlights the role played by medical institutions in supporting communities beyond their immediate patient base during the pandemic. In Bengaluru, the assistance extended to French residents and the Consulate was an example of local healthcare capacity being mobilised to help an international community during a crisis.
Who is Dr Devi Prasad Shetty?
Dr Devi Prasad Shetty is among India’s best-known cardiac surgeons and healthcare entrepreneurs. He is the Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, a healthcare network built around the idea that advanced medical treatment should be more accessible and affordable, rather than restricted by a patient’s ability to pay.
Shetty completed his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru, earning an MBBS degree and a postgraduate qualification in general surgery. He then trained in cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom, including at Guy’s Hospital in London. After returning to India in 1989, he worked in Kolkata before establishing a major cardiac surgery programme and later building a hospital network in Bengaluru. A published academic profile of Dr Shetty traces his education and early medical career; his Narayana Health profile lists his qualifications and clinical specialisations.
His work has included adult cardiac surgery as well as paediatric and congenital heart surgery. Over the course of his career, he has become associated with complex heart procedures and efforts to expand access to surgical care for children and adults. He also served as a physician to Mother Teresa, including treating her after a heart attack in the 1990s, a connection often noted in accounts of his public life.
Building Narayana Health around affordable treatment
Dr Shetty established Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru around 2000–2001, beginning with a focus on cardiac care before the organisation grew into the wider Narayana Health network. Its model sought to reduce the cost of treatment through scale, high patient volumes, standardised processes, technology and efficient use of hospital infrastructure, while retaining specialist medical services.
The model attracted attention from healthcare researchers and international institutions because it challenged the assumption that advanced treatment must always carry premium-hospital costs. Duke-NUS Medical School describes Shetty as a healthcare leader whose work has focused on making quality treatment more affordable, and notes that Narayana Health’s approach has been studied by institutions including Harvard Business School. Duke-NUS’ profile of Dr Shetty also records his wider contributions to healthcare policy and innovation.
One of his major public-health initiatives was the Yeshasvini micro-health-insurance scheme, developed in association with the Government of Karnataka. The scheme was designed to provide low-cost access to medical treatment for rural farmers and their families. Duke-NUS notes that the initiative benefited more than 3.4 million rural people, illustrating Shetty’s interest in solutions that address not only medical technology but also the financial barriers that prevent people from receiving care.
His contributions have previously been recognised in India and internationally. He received the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012. Other distinctions listed in his Duke-NUS profile include the Economist Innovation Award, the Financial Times–ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Award and the Nikkei Asia Prize for Economic and Business Innovation. He has also received honorary doctorates from institutions including the University of Minnesota, IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur.
A recognition rooted in India-France solidarity
France’s decision to honour Dr Shetty is specifically tied to the support extended to the French community in Bengaluru during COVID-19. It recognises a period when access to medical guidance, vaccination and practical assistance was particularly important for residents living away from their home country. The distinction therefore carries a diplomatic dimension as well as a personal one, reflecting cooperation between the French Consulate and an Indian healthcare institution.
