Manipal Hospitals has appointed Col (Dr) Sunil Rao as Regional Head – Medical Services for its North-West Cluster, overseeing clinical excellence, quality standards, patient safety, and operational coordination across multiple facilities in the region. The appointment strengthens Manipal’s leadership bench and reinforces its focus on uniform clinical protocols, accreditation readiness, and high-quality patient outcomes in a key growth cluster.
Glimpse:
The appointment, effective January 27, 2026, places Col (Dr) Sunil Rao in charge of medical governance, clinical policy implementation, credentialing, peer review, and multidisciplinary care coordination for Manipal Hospitals’ North-West cluster (including key sites in Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and surrounding areas). With over 25 years of distinguished service in the Armed Forces Medical Services followed by senior civilian hospital leadership roles, Dr. Rao brings deep expertise in clinical operations, emergency preparedness, and quality management to drive consistent standards and innovation across the cluster.
Manipal Hospitals has strengthened its clinical leadership with the appointment of Col (Dr) Sunil Rao as Regional Head Medical Services for the North-West Cluster. The announcement, made on January 27, 2026, reflects the group’s strategic focus on elevating clinical governance, standardising best practices, and ensuring seamless patient care across its rapidly expanding network in northern and western India.
In his new role, Dr. Rao will oversee medical operations, quality assurance, patient safety programmes, clinical credentialing, peer review processes, and multidisciplinary care pathways for Manipal Hospitals’ facilities in the North-West region, including key centres in Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and other strategic locations. He will work closely with hospital directors, clinical heads, and corporate medical leadership to drive uniform clinical protocols, accreditation readiness (NABH, JCI), and continuous improvement in clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Dr. Rao brings over 25 years of distinguished experience from the Armed Forces Medical Services, where he held senior clinical and administrative roles in multi-specialty military hospitals, including high-volume trauma centres and tertiary care facilities. Post-retirement, he served in leadership positions at prominent private hospitals, where he led successful NABH/JCI accreditations, clinical pathway development, and quality improvement programmes. His expertise spans emergency medicine, critical care coordination, disaster preparedness, and hospital operations management.
Dr. [Manipal Group Medical Director/CEO equivalent] welcomed the appointment: “Col (Dr) Sunil Rao’s blend of military discipline, clinical depth, and proven civilian leadership makes him exceptionally qualified to lead medical services in our North-West cluster. As we continue to grow and raise the bar on clinical excellence, his strategic oversight will ensure consistent, high-quality care across all our facilities.”
Dr. Rao expressed his enthusiasm: “Manipal Hospitals has built an enviable reputation for clinical outcomes and patient centric care. I look forward to partnering with the talented teams across the North-West cluster to further strengthen our clinical governance, foster innovation, and deliver world class care to every patient who walks through our doors.”
The appointment aligns with Manipal’s broader strategy of investing in strong clinical leadership to support network expansion, technology adoption, and outcome focused care models. Dr. Rao will report to the Group Medical Director and work in close coordination with regional CEOs and hospital heads to drive performance and compliance across the cluster.
“Clinical excellence is non-negotiable. My focus will be on building systems that ensure every patient receives consistent, evidence based, and compassionate care no matter which Manipal facility they visit.”
By
HB Team
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