Chennai, Jan 25 (IANS) Preetha Reddy, managing director of the Apollo Hospital Group, Monday described her father Pratap C. Reddy's selection for Padma Vibhushan, the nation's second highest civilian award, as an honour for the 'untiring effort of all Apollo Hospital family members'.

The award to Apollo Group executive chairman Pratap C. Reddy is the second in two decades in recognition of his pioneering contribution to the healthcare sector.

In 1991, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan.

Exuding happiness at the honour, Preetha Reddy told IANS: 'The honour is for the untiring effort of all Apollo Hospital family members. On behalf of the Apollo family, we thank the government and the people and take a pledge to go forward.'

The Apollo Hospital Group, Asia's largest healthcare group comprising of 46 hospitals with around 8,100 beds, is also one of the top hospital chains in the world.

Recently the group signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Maldives government to run a hospital there.

The Apollo Hospital group has other Padma awardees apart from Reddy.

Dr.M.K. Mani and Dr.M.R. Girinath were awarded Padma Bhushans while Padma Shri has been conferred on Dr. Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, Dr.I. Sathyamurthy, Dr.K.R. Palanisamy and Dr. Mayilvahanan Nataranan.