Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre is India’s largest chain of diabetes-specialist hospitals, with 51 centres across 32 cities and more than one million patients seen since its founding in 1991. If you have diabetes — type 1, type 2, or gestational — or you have been recently diagnosed and want specialist care, this guide explains what the centre offers, where to find it, and what to expect when you visit.
What Is Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre?
Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre is a dedicated diabetes hospital network headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Unlike a general hospital with a diabetes department, the entire centre is built around one condition. Every department — from ophthalmology to podiatry to pharmacy — exists specifically to manage diabetes and its complications.
The organisation was founded in 1991 and has grown into the largest specialist diabetes chain in India. It operates as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, meaning its research and clinical protocols are aligned with international standards set by the World Health Organization.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Gopalapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Centres | 51 across India |
| Cities covered | 32 |
| Patients seen | 1 million+ |
| Doctors | 130+ |
| Services | 35+ |
| WHO status | Collaborating Centre for NCD Prevention & Control |
Who Founded Dr. Mohan’s — and Why It Matters
Dr. V. Mohan is the Chairman and Chief of Diabetology at Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre. He trained initially at MV Hospital and Diabetes Research Centre in Chennai, where he worked alongside his father, the pioneering diabetologist Dr. M. Viswanathan.
In 1991, Dr. V. Mohan and his wife, the late Dr. Rema Mohan, founded the centre with a focus on comprehensive, evidence-based diabetes care. The companion research body, the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), conducts ongoing studies into diabetes prevalence, complications, and treatment in the Indian and South Asian population — with findings published in journals including The Lancet, Diabetes Care, and Diabetologia.
The clinical weight of this matters for patients. When you see a diabetologist at Dr. Mohan’s, they have access to in-house ophthalmology for retinopathy screening, podiatry for foot assessment, a dedicated laboratory, and research-backed protocols — all under one roof.
Services Offered at Dr. Mohan’s
Dr. Mohan’s offers more than 35 services across several departments, each designed to address the direct consequences of uncontrolled blood glucose.
Precision Diabetes Services
The core service is diabetology — the medical management of diabetes. Doctors assess your blood glucose control, review your HbA1c, adjust medications, and screen for early complications. Treatment is personalised to your physiology, not a one-size prescription.
Eye Care
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable blindness. Dr. Mohan’s operates a full ophthalmology unit that handles routine eye power checks, preliminary retinal examination, and advanced surgical procedures. The International Diabetes Federation recommends annual retinal screening for people with diabetes; the centre provides this within a single visit.
Foot Care
The foot clinic focuses on preventing and treating diabetic foot complications — neuropathy, ulcers, and the risk of amputation from peripheral vascular disease. Podiatrists perform regular foot assessments, educate patients on daily foot care, and manage active ulcers with wound dressing protocols. Dr. Mohan’s was the first diabetes centre in India to offer bariatric surgery as a weight-management intervention, which has downstream benefits for type 2 diabetes control.
Inpatient Facility
The headquarters in Gopalapuram, Chennai, has a 70-bed inpatient facility for patients who require close monitoring — during insulin stabilisation, before surgery, or during acute diabetic complications.
Home Care
The “Dr. Mohan’s on Wheels” service brings diabetes care to patients who cannot travel easily. This covers blood tests, medication reviews, and nursing support at home.
Dental Care
Periodontal (gum) disease is a recognised complication of poorly controlled diabetes, and the relationship runs both ways — gum disease can also worsen blood glucose control. Dr. Mohan’s runs an on-site dental clinic specifically to manage this intersection.
Pharmacy
The in-house pharmacy supplies diabetes medications — including insulin — from properly stored, authenticated sources. Cold-chain integrity matters for insulin in particular; the centre’s dedicated pharmacy ensures medications are stored and dispensed correctly.
Laboratory Services
All routine diabetes tests — HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipid panel, kidney function (creatinine, eGFR), urine microalbumin — can be run on-site, with same-day results typically available. This allows the treating doctor to review findings during the same visit rather than asking you to return.
How to Book an Appointment at Dr. Mohan’s
Appointments can be booked online through the official website at drmohans.com (nofollow) or by calling the centre directly. The booking page asks for your preferred location, the department you want to see, and a preferred date.
What to bring to your first visit:
- Previous HbA1c results and recent blood glucose logs
- A list of all current medications, including dosage
- Any prior investigations: ECG, kidney function tests, eye reports
- Insurance card if applicable (check whether your insurer covers specialist outpatient consultations)
What to expect on arrival:
For a new patient, the first visit typically includes registration, an initial nursing assessment (weight, blood pressure, blood glucose), a consultation with a diabetologist, and a referral to any specialist department identified during that consultation — such as ophthalmology or podiatry. Diagnostic tests may be ordered during the same visit.
The centre operates on an appointment system. Walk-ins are not guaranteed a same-day consultation at all locations, and peak hours at the Chennai headquarters can be busy.
Locations: Where to Find Dr. Mohan’s Centres
Dr. Mohan’s operates 51 centres across eight states and one union territory in India.
| State / Territory | Approximate centre count |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | ~15 (including 8 in Chennai) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 10 |
| Telangana | 8 |
| Karnataka | 5 |
| Kerala | 2 |
| West Bengal | 2 |
| Odisha | 1 (Bhubaneswar) |
| Puducherry | 1 |
Tamil Nadu locations outside Chennai include Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Thanjavur, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Dindigul, Tuticorin, and Chunampet.
The main headquarters — the largest facility, with the inpatient unit and full specialist complement — is at Gopalapuram, Chennai. If you are travelling specifically for care, this location offers the widest range of services on-site. Smaller branch clinics provide outpatient consultations and standard investigations, but may not have all sub-specialities available on-site on every day of the week.
What Patients Say About Dr. Mohan’s
Patient reviews across platforms in India consistently highlight several patterns at Dr. Mohan’s:
Systematic, coordinated care: Many patients note that the multi-department structure allows them to complete consultations and all required tests in a single visit, rather than coordinating between separate hospitals across different days.
Long-term continuity: A recurring theme in reviews is patients who have been attending for 10, 15, or even 20 years. In a lifelong condition like type 2 diabetes, this kind of continuity — where your file and history travel with you — reduces the risk of treatment gaps.
Staff accessibility: Reviewers frequently mention that staff, from reception through to senior doctors, communicate clearly and are available to answer questions.
Facility standards: Multiple reviews note consistently clean premises across branches.
The most common negative feedback concerns wait times during peak hours at high-volume Chennai branches. Booking an early-morning appointment typically reduces this.
Dr. Mohan’s vs. a General Hospital: What’s Different?
| Aspect | Dr. Mohan’s (specialist centre) | General hospital diabetes dept. |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical focus | Diabetes only | Broad internal medicine with diabetes unit |
| Same-day sub-specialty access | Yes — ophthalmology, podiatry, dental, lab in one visit | Typically requires separate referrals and appointment slots |
| Research integration | In-house MDRF research informs protocols | Varies |
| Diabetes-specific pharmacy | Yes, on-site | Standard hospital pharmacy |
| Inpatient facility | Yes at main HQ | Yes, but shared with all conditions |
| Home care service | Yes (Dr. Mohan’s on Wheels) | Rarely available |
| WHO collaboration status | Yes | Not typical |
The practical difference: a routine diabetes review at a specialist centre can address retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy screening in a single appointment. At a general hospital, the same coverage might require three separate visits to three different departments, each with its own wait and appointment lag.
Research and Recognition
The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), founded alongside the clinical network, is one of India’s most active diabetes research institutions. Its studies have contributed to understanding the genetic and lifestyle drivers of type 2 diabetes in South Asian populations. Dr. V. Mohan has published more than 700 peer-reviewed papers, with research cited in national and international diabetes guidelines.
In 2013, Dr. Mohan’s was named Best Diabetes Endocrine Hospital in India at the CNBC-TV18 Health Care Awards. In 2017, the group raised ₹66 crore (approximately $10.3 million) in Series A funding — the first external funding since its founding — directed at expanding the centre network.
The WHO Collaborating Centre designation is granted to a select number of institutions globally and requires meeting specific standards of research output, training capacity, and clinical quality.
Costs and Insurance
Dr. Mohan’s operates as a private specialist facility. Consultation fees, investigation costs, and medication charges are charged to the patient or their insurer.
Approximate costs (verify directly with the centre; these are indicative):
- Outpatient consultation with a diabetologist: ₹400–₹800
- HbA1c test: ₹350–₹500
- Comprehensive diabetic check-up package: ₹1,500–₹3,000
- Ophthalmology examination: ₹400–₹700
Most major Indian health insurance policies cover specialist outpatient consultations if the policy includes an OPD benefit rider. Inpatient stays are covered under standard hospitalisation clauses. Confirm your policy’s specialist consultation coverage before booking.
The centre also offers health packages that bundle consultation, blood tests, and specialist screenings at a lower combined price than booking each separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Mohan’s only for type 2 diabetes?
No. The centre treats type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, and related complications. It also offers bariatric surgery for eligible patients where weight loss may reduce medication dependence.
Does Dr. Mohan’s accept walk-in patients?
Walk-ins are accepted at most branches for blood tests and pharmacy services. For doctor consultations, advance appointment booking is recommended — especially at high-volume Chennai locations.
Can I see Dr. V. Mohan directly?
Dr. V. Mohan continues to see patients as Chairman and Chief of Diabetology, but his consultation schedule is limited. Most patients are seen by the 130+ specialist doctors across the network. Clinical protocols are standardised across all branches.
Does Dr. Mohan’s have a mobile app?
Yes. Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre has a health app available on the Google Play Store for appointment bookings, medication reminders, and health tracking.
Is the MDRF research available to patients?
The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation conducts studies in which patients may be invited to participate voluntarily. Research findings inform the clinical guidelines used across the network.
This article provides general information about Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre. Costs and services are subject to change; verify directly with the centre before visiting.
Author: Kirti, Founder & Serial Entrepreneur, HealthyWayFit
