Nov 24: Founder, Managing Director and CEO of People Tree Hospitals, Dr. Jothi Neeraja, has begun facilitating an exit for BlackRock, which invested ₹210 crore ($24 million) in the People Tree Hospital network in March this year. The investment supported People Tree’s expansion and enhanced super-specialty services, marking BlackRock’s first significant healthcare investment in India.
A first-generation Entrepreneur & Obstetrician – Gynecologist from Kadapa, Dr. Neeraja built People Tree brick by brick through relentless work, personal sacrifice, and a commitment to ethical, affordable care. From its inception to becoming a 300+ bed multi-specialty institution, she established a culture of transparency, patient trust, and disciplined financial governance.
Her entrepreneurial track record includes:
– Delivering early exits to 78 investors
– Provided timely exit to Infosys Co-founder, Kris Gopalakrishnan’s family office
– Being entrusted with BlackRock’s first hospital investment in India
“I started with no legacy, no network just intent and integrity,” Dr. Neeraja said. “So, when investors place trust in you, you honor it. Completing BlackRock’s exit is part of that commitment.”
With People Tree’s transition underway, she is also focusing on Maarga Mind Care, scaling a 1,000-bed, 25-dedicated mental health hospital network a bold move to address India’s 70–90% mental health treatment gap.
“India has built world-class super specialty care in Cardiology, Urology, Gastroenterology, Oncology & Neurosciences,” she added. “Our next decade must belong to mental health with the same quality, urgency, and seriousness.”
From navigating complex investor structures to building ethical healthcare institutes of excellence and now scaling a nationwide mental health network, Dr. Jothi Neeraja represents a pragmatic and purpose-driven model of healthcare leadership and entrepreneurship — grounded in trust, impact, and long-term vision.
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