Dr. K. K. Aggarwal (Krishan Kumar Aggarwal), Padma Shri

Dr. K. K. Aggarwal (Krishan Kumar Aggarwal), Padma Shri
Cardiologist, Medical Educator & Public Health Communicator

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a viewer of one of his daily videos asked, “Doctor, how do we stay calm when everything feels uncertain?”

Dr. K. K. Aggarwal replied firmly yet gently, “Facts provide clarity. In a time of anxiety, facts comfort. Keep learning, keep sharing reliable information, and remember—prevention and timely care save lives. The show must go on.”

That spirit of clear communication and tireless public service marked his entire career.

Krishan Kumar Aggarwal was born on 5 September 1958 in New Delhi. A brilliant student, he completed his MBBS from Nagpur University (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram) in 1979 as a gold medallist and best graduate, topping the university. He earned his MD in Medicine from the same institute in 1983.

He joined Moolchand Medcity in New Delhi as a senior consultant physician and cardiologist, later serving as Dean of the Board of Medical Education until 2017. He was among the pioneers in India of streptokinase (“clot-buster”) therapy for acute heart attacks (first used by him in 1984) and introduced colour Doppler echocardiography in North India in 1987. He also promoted lifestyle interventions, yoga and Ayurvedic principles alongside modern cardiology for the prevention and management of heart disease and diabetes.

Dr. Aggarwal held many leadership positions: National President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), President of the Delhi Medical Association, Honorary Secretary General of the IMA, and later President of the Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO). He founded and led the Heart Care Foundation of India, through which he organised large-scale public health campaigns, free camps and training programmes. He was a Limca Book of Records holder for training the maximum number of people in hands-only CPR. A prolific writer and communicator, he authored books, textbook chapters on echocardiography, and thousands of articles, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the IJCP Group of Publications.

He received the Dr. B. C. Roy National Award in 2005 for socio-medical relief and the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contributions to medicine. Other honours included the National Science Communication Award, Vishwa Hindi Samman, FICCI Health Care Personality of the Year Award and the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award.

Dr. K. K. Aggarwal passed away on 17 May 2021 in New Delhi after a prolonged battle with COVID-19. Even while ill, he continued to share educational videos to help the public.

“Medicine is not only about treating disease,” he often said. “It is about educating people so they can protect their own health.”

From pioneering cardiac therapies and echocardiography to leading national medical associations and reaching millions through health communication, Dr. K. K. Aggarwal left a lasting legacy as a physician who placed patients and the public first.