Founder of the Indian Resuscitation Council Federation (IRCF) – Established a national platform to develop India’s own CPR guidelines aligned with international standards while addressing the country’s cultural and infrastructural realities.
Pioneering the ‘Every Citizen a Lifesaver’ Movement – Led mass training drives across India, empowering over a million people with CPR skills and creating one of the world’s largest public awareness campaigns on cardiac arrest response.
Introduced Indian CPR Guidelines – Developed India’s first evidence-based CPR guidelines to make resuscitation accessible and practical for all healthcare levels and community responders.
Promoted CPR Training in Schools and Colleges – Advocated for integrating lifesaving education into academic systems, ensuring that children and young adults are prepared to respond in emergencies.
Leadership in Global Forums – Represented India in international organizations like WFSA and ILCOR, strengthening India’s voice in the global resuscitation and anaesthesiology community.
Policy and System Reforms – Worked with government bodies and health authorities to improve emergency response frameworks, public health awareness, and training infrastructure.
Public Awareness Milestones – Spearheaded nationwide events such as World Restart a Heart Day (2018, 2019), setting global records for CPR training participation.
Commemoration through Postal Stamp Release – Instrumental in the release of India’s official CPR postal stamp and envelope in 2020, symbolizing the national recognition of CPR as a citizen movement.
The vision for CPR India, now officially known as the Indian Resuscitation Council Federation (IRCF), began with Dr. S. S. C. Chakra Rao’s realization that survival after cardiac arrest in India was far below global averages — not due to a lack of doctors, but due to a lack of awareness and training among citizens.
Determined to change this, Dr. Rao united experts from the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA) and collaborated with global organizations such as ILCOR to form a national body capable of developing India-specific CPR guidelines and executing mass training programs for the public.
Over time, the initiative expanded into a national movement and officially evolved into the Indian Resuscitation Council Federation (IRCF) a unified platform representing India’s leading professional healthcare organizations.
Under Dr. Rao’s visionary leadership, IRCF has transformed from a professional collaboration into a nationwide mission, training millions, shaping policy, and inspiring both healthcare workers and ordinary citizens to become lifesavers.
Today, the Indian Resuscitation Council Federation stands as a testament to India’s ability to lead its own public health revolution, built on science, service, and the unwavering vision of Dr. S. S. C. Chakra Rao.
