Dr. (Prof.) Mansoor Hasan, Padma Shri
Cardiologist & Founder of Lari Cardiology Centre

A young doctor once asked him, “Sir, why did you work so hard to build a cardiology centre when resources were scarce?”

Dr. Mansoor Hasan replied thoughtfully, “I saw poor patients from eastern Uttar Pradesh standing in long queues outside AIIMS in Delhi, far from home. Heart care should not force people to travel hundreds of kilometres. If we create facilities closer to them, we save both lives and dignity.”

That vision shaped his lifelong contribution to cardiology in Lucknow.

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Mansoor Hasan was born in 1938 in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, into a well-known Pathan family with roots tracing back to the 17th century. His father, Ajmal Hasan Khan, was a medical practitioner, and the family had historical connections to education and public life. He completed his early schooling and intermediate education in Aligarh before going to London for medical studies. He returned to join King George’s Medical College (KGMC, now King George’s Medical University), Lucknow, in 1962. He later obtained the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) from Edinburgh in 1964 and subsequently the Fellowship (FRCP) of both the Royal College of Physicians of London and Edinburgh. He also received specialised training in cardiology in London.

He served in the Department of Cardiology at KGMC for decades, rising to become Head of the Department before retiring in 1996. In the 1970s, moved by the sight of patients from eastern Uttar Pradesh travelling long distances for cardiac care, he mobilised resources and support to establish the Lari Cardiology Centre at KGMC in 1977. The centre grew into a major facility offering diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac services, including angioplasty, and has served thousands of patients from across the region. He also helped lay the foundation for a comprehensive cardiology department and the DM Cardiology superspeciality programme.

Dr. Hasan has published more than 50 papers in national and international journals and guided over 30 MD theses. He served as President of the Cardiological Society of India and Vice-President of the International Society of Heart Research. He has been an honorary consultant to the Armed Forces of India, Cromwell Hospital (London) and Escorts Hospital (New Delhi), and a member of the executive councils of several universities including Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Kanpur and University of Lucknow.

After retirement he continued clinical practice, associating with institutions such as Sahara Hospital and later Divine Heart & Multispeciality Hospital in Lucknow, with a continued focus on accessible and preventive cardiology.

The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2011 for his contributions to medicine. He has also received the Certificate of Honour from the Indian Medical Association, Lucknow chapter, and other professional recognitions.

Even in later years, Dr. Hasan has emphasised service over commercial gain.

“We never aimed only at earning money,” he has said. “Working for a genuine cause brings lasting satisfaction. Lari Cardiology remains one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.”

From recognising the need for local cardiac care in the 1970s to building the Lari Cardiology Centre and training generations of doctors, Prof. Mansoor Hasan made advanced heart care more accessible to the people of Uttar Pradesh.

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History of Lari Cardiology Centre, Lucknow

Lari Cardiology Centre is a major cardiac care facility at King George’s Medical University (KGMU, formerly King George’s Medical College / CSMMU) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It has served as one of the primary government centres for heart care in the state for nearly five decades.

Inspiration and Founding (1970s)

In the 1970s, Dr. Mansoor Hasan, then a young cardiologist at King George’s Medical College (KGMC), was deeply affected by the long queues of patients from remote parts of Uttar Pradesh (especially eastern districts such as Ballia) waiting outside the cardiology department of AIIMS, New Delhi. Many were poor and had travelled long distances at great cost and hardship for cardiac treatment.

Determined to create accessible heart care closer to home, Dr. Hasan mobilised resources and support from well-wishers after returning to Lucknow. The largest early contribution came from philanthropist and businessman Maqbool Ahmed Lari (1916–2004), a Padma Shri awardee known for his work in literature, education and social causes. In recognition of his major financial support, the centre was named Lari Cardiology Centre.

The centre was formally established in 1977 under the leadership of Dr. Mansoor Hasan. It became the foundation for a dedicated cardiology department at KGMC and later helped enable the start of the DM Cardiology superspeciality programme.

Growth and Services

From modest beginnings, Lari Cardiology Centre developed into a well-equipped government facility offering diagnostic and interventional cardiology services, including angiography and angioplasty. By the early 2010s it was performing over 100 angioplasty procedures in some months and catering to hundreds of patients from across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring regions.

Dr. Mansoor Hasan served as Head of the Cardiology Department until his retirement in 1996 and remained closely associated with the centre’s development. The facility has long faced high patient load as one of the main affordable cardiac centres in the state.

Recent Expansion

Due to rising demand (daily OPD footfall often exceeding 300–350 patients and limited beds), KGMU undertook major expansion:

• Construction of a new multi-storey building began around 2016–2017.
• The new block significantly increased capacity. Reports from 2024–2025 indicate the original facility had roughly 84–100 beds; the expanded complex has raised total capacity substantially (with additions of ICU/HDU beds and overall beds reported in the range of doubling or more, towards 176–300 in various phases).
• New facilities include additional cath labs, modern diagnostic equipment, and improved infrastructure.
• In July 2025, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a new state-of-the-art cardiology wing (reported cost around ₹105 crore) as part of broader KGMU upgrades, further enhancing capacity and reducing waiting times.

Legacy

Lari Cardiology Centre remains a cornerstone of public cardiac care in Uttar Pradesh. It continues to provide relatively affordable treatment to large numbers of patients who might otherwise have limited access to specialised heart care. Its establishment is closely linked to the vision of Padma Shri Dr. Mansoor Hasan and the philanthropy of Maqbool Ahmed Lari, reflecting a successful public–private–philanthropic collaboration in government healthcare.

The centre operates as part of KGMU’s cardiology department and continues to expand its services and infrastructure to meet growing demand.