Bengaluru, 6 November 2026: The Consulate General of France in Bangalore today announced the conferment of the Chevalier de l’ Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) on Dr Devi Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana Health. The honour was presented at a ceremony held today at Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.
Established on 3 December 1963 by French President Charles de Gaulle, the Ordre national du Mérite is one of France’s two national orders of distinction and the country’s second-highest national order after the Legion of Honour. It recognises distinguished service and outstanding contributions by French citizens and foreign nationals across civilian and military fields, in both the public and private sectors. The Order comprises five grades: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross.
Dr Shetty is being recognised for his generosity, availability and commitment to supporting the French community in Bangalore during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time of unprecedented challenges, he and Narayana Health opened their doors to the French Consulate and the wider French community through vaccination initiatives and logistical assistance, demonstrating an exceptional spirit of cooperation and solidarity.
Dr Shetty is widely recognised for his contribution to global healthcare delivery through his work over the course of his career. A cardiac surgeon by training, he has worked towards improving access to healthcare through innovative models of delivery, technology and institution building. His work has had a significant impact in extending the reach of medical care in India, and oversees through networks in the Cayman Islands and The United Kingdom. He has also advocated for affordable health insurance and other health policy measures, besides medical education and research.
During the felicitation, Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bangalore, said: “We are delighted to recognise Dr Devi Shetty for his generosity and unwavering support to the French community in Bangalore during the pandemic. His actions reflect the true spirit of solidarity and the enduring friendship between France and India.”
While receiving the recognition, Dr Devi Shetty said: “I am truly honoured to receive this recognition from the Government of France. During the pandemic, we were happy to extend our support to the French community in Bangalore. It was a difficult time for everyone, and standing together and helping one another was what mattered most. I am grateful to our teams who made this possible.”
The ceremony was attended by Consulate General of France, Board members of Narayana Health and team, members of the French community and other distinguished invitees.
About Narayana Health:
Founded in 2000 by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited is one of the leading healthcare service providers, operating a chain of multispecialty, tertiary, and primary healthcare facilities. As of 30 September 2026, the Group operates 56 healthcare facilities across India, the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom, with 6,119 operational beds, a total capacity of 6,374 beds and about 21,150 employees. In India it is present across Bengaluru, Mysore, Shimoga, Davangere, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Guwahati, Raipur, Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai; in the Cayman Islands it runs Health City Cayman Islands and Health City Camana Bay; and in the UK it runs hospitals, surgical centres and urgent treatment centres across England.
