Renowned orthopaedic surgeon passes away in Visakhapatnam

Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana Rao, renowned orthopaedic surgeon who brought smiles to the faces of thousands of polio patients and physically challenged persons, passed away on Saturday evening, January 17. He was 85.

He is survived by his wife R. Sasiprabha, a noted gynaecologist and former Director of Medical Education, Andhra Pradesh, a daughter, Dr. Sesh Kamal, and a son, Sasi Kiran, both working in the United Kingdom.

Born on June 30, 1939, at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Adinarayana Rao had his early education at U.L.C.M. High School. He completed his MBBS in 1966 and M.S. in Orthopaedics in 1970 from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam.

Noted not only for his surgical skill but also for his affable nature and deep empathy, he was fondly referred to by patients as Vikalang Bandhu and Poliowalon ka Devata. Patients travelled from States such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, and even from the USA, Canada and other countries, to seek his treatment.

During a distinguished career spanning over four decades, Dr. Adinarayana Rao performed around 3 lakh surgeries and more than 10 lakh operative procedures, largely for polio-affected and disabled patients.

In recognition of his relentless service to poor polio patients through Prema Hospital in Visakhapatnam and free polio surgical camps conducted across the country, he was awarded the Padma Shri in January 2022. He was the founder and managing trustee of Prema Hospitals.

Dr. Adinarayana Rao held several important positions, including Professor of Traumatology and Professor of Orthopaedics at Andhra Medical College, Professor of Orthopaedics and Superintendent of R.C.D. Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Visakhapatnam, and Director General of Prema Hospitals, Visakhapatnam.

He received several awards, including the National Award for Best Service in the Field of Welfare of the Disabled for 1998 from the Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, presented by the then Prime Minister of India, the Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award, and the Bhagawan Mahaveer International Award in 2002.