Mrs. Chitra Gopinathan, wife of Dr K.K. Gopinathan, is the Managing Director of Edappal Hospitals Pvt. Ltd and Cimar Cochin Hospital. She was born on 11th September 1953 to affluent Shri. K.G.K. Panicker and Smt. Kalyani Panicker. Mrs. Chitra completed her graduation from St. Xavier’s College, Aluva in Kerala. She got married on 10th Nov 1974 to Dr. K.K. Gopinathan, an eminent gynecologist & obstetrician with specialization in the field of infertility. She is blessed with two sons. The elder son, Mr. Gokul Gopinath is the CEO, Edappal Hospitals Group & the Managing Director, All Seasons Herbs Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. The younger son, Dr. Parasuram Gopinath is the Medical Director, CIMAR Cochin Hospital.
Since her parents were into Ayurveda, the essence of healing was in her blood. She became the director of Kerala Ayurvedic Pharmacy Ltd., Aluva, one of Kerala’s first Public Limited Ayurveda companies from 1985 to 2005.
The urge to render healing services to the common man pushed Mrs. Chitra to give shape to the Edappal Hospitals Pvt. Ltd., at Edappal, Malappuram district of Kerala. She started this initiative in 1990 with 20 beds with her better half Dr. K.K. Gopinathan, a visionary himself as the Medical Chief. The able leadership and care-for-all approach of Mrs.
Chitra Gopinathan steered the institution ahead and today, Edappal Hospitals has grown to be an ISO certified, NABH accredited, 350 bedded multi-specialty medical facility with a staff strength of around 1000. Having delivered the hundred thousand th baby in March 2019, this dream venture of Mrs Chitra is marching ahead.
In 1996, Mrs. Chitra trekked onto a less-traveled path, this time to help the childless couples in and around Kerala. She started CIMAR, a division of Edappal Hospitals to deal with the problem of infertility. And till date, thousands of couples have had smiles on their faces and their dreams in their laps, thanks to the comforting and impeccable services of CIMAR. Credited with the 1st ICSI baby of Kerala, CIMAR has now become one of the leading centers in India in the field of infertility management, fetal medicine and genetics. She opened a new branch of CIMAR at Cochin in 2010.
Today, Mrs Chitra serves as the Managing Director of Edappal Hospitals Pvt. Ltd since 1990. She is personally involved in the day-to-day activities of the hospital and its staff. Carrying forward the Ayurvedic background of her parents, she is also the Director of All Seasons Herbs Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, a leading manufacturer and exporter of standardized herbal extracts.
Drawing inspiration from her mother, Mrs. Chitra continues to be socially committed. She is actively involved in the functioning of an orphanage at Aluva. She is at the forefront when it comes to offering help to the poor patients at Edappal Hospitals. She is involved in many social activities in and around Edappal. In recognition of her large philanthropic activities, Mrs. Chitra received the “Inner Vision Charity Foundation Arogya Darshan Award” in 2017. Also she was honoured with Life Time Achievement Award by Honorable Governor of Kerala Mr. Sadasivam at the “Verve Award” ceremony hosted by Indian Express in 2019.
With a strong faith in God, an intense desire to help mankind and a smile on her face, Mrs. Chitra has touched the lives of innumerable people with her tonic of healing and hospitality.