Indian-origin cancer surgeon conferred prestigious UK honour

London: Dr P Raghu Ram of Hyderabad was honoured with the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). Receiving the award on Wednesday at Windsor Castle in London, Raghu Ram became one of the youngest Indian origin surgeons in more than 100 years to get the honour, NDTV reported.

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, presented Raghu Ram with the honour, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, for his outstanding services towards breast cancer care and surgical education in India as well as UK/India relations. Excluding the Knighthood/damehood, the OBE award is the second-highest-ranking order of the British Empire award.

Director of KIMS-UHSAKASHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, Raghu Ram, is the founder CEO of Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation. He responded, expressing his gratitude to the Queen, that he has strived for the best of British practices in his motherland during the last 15 years. He is incredibly proud to have been a living bridge connecting UK and India, he said.

Raghu Ram dedicated the award to family, patients, colleagues at KIMS Hospitals and the Indian surgical fraternity worldwide.

He was the founder of South Asia's first dedicated comprehensive breast health centre and initiated a breast cancer charity to spread awareness about the disease. He worked for the formation of The Association of Breast Surgeons of India.

Raghu Ram had received the Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National awards, conferred by the Indian President, in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Some renowned OBE recipients are actor Om Puri, footballer David Beckham and his wife, singer Victoria Beckham, cricketer Ben Stokes, author J K Rowling, and actress Kiera Knightley.