According to The Hindu, Eminent cardiologist Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, recognised as the ‘Father of Angioplasty’ in India, died at the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on 18th April, 2025 after a brief illness. He was also instrumental in setting up and establishing angioplasty facilities in a number of countries in the Asia-Pacific Region.

About Mathew Samuel

• Born in Kerala on January 6, 1948.
• Graduated from the Kottayam Medical College and completed his postgraduation and specialisation in cardiology in Chennai.
• Also known as the ‘Father of Angioplasty’ in India.
• Performed the first angioplasty in India in 1986.
• Also considered as the ‘Father of Coronary Angioplasty’.
• He helped develop angioplasty programmes in countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
• Recipient of a number of honours and awards, including the
  • Padma Shri in 2000,
  • Dr. B.C. Roy Award in 1996,
  • Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, in June 2003.
• He held a number of significant positions, including
  • President, Asian-Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology, from 1995 to 1997.
  • Chairman of Interventional Cardiology, Asian-Pacific Society of Cardiology, from 1995 to 1999.
• He was the founder-convenor of the National Angioplasty Registry of India.
  • It is a forum for interventional cardiologists of the country to learn from each other, streamline the standard of procedure and maintain international standards.