Pioneering Non-invasive Medical Testing and Treatment in SA – Rakesh Mohanlall

Pioneering non-invasive medical testing and treatment in SA

Clinical Technologist extraordinaire Dr Rakesh Mohanlall (48) holds a patent on a blood rejuvenation machine, started a new treatment in South Africa for cardiac patients known as External Counterpulsation (ECP), is the founder of the International ECP Association, introduced the first non-invasive cardiac diagnostic tests in Africa (3D Vasculography – 3DVG), and is the first perfusionist in the world to achieve a Doctorate in Cardiovascular Perfusion.

Indomitable Mohanlall is the CEO of South African External Counterpulsation Centre in Durban North, which offers 3DVG as well as treatment for patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart disease before or after stents and bypass surgery.

He has treated thousands of patients (including medical professionals) from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Scotland, Mauritius, etc. in the last decade with a greater than 90% success rate.

Growing up the eldest son among four to a humble bookkeeper (father) and machinist (mother) in Phoenix, he went on to participate competitively in karate, volleyball, table tennis and soccer on a local, national and international level.

RAKESH MOHANLALL DUT Clinical Technology graduate (DTECH) Although the winner of the National Science Olympiad in 1990, Mohanlall had to work for a year after matric due to financial constraints, then enrolled for Medical Technology at DUT in 1992. After successfully completing his first year, doctors thought that Mohanlall would never walk again after suffering severe spinal cord injuries from a terrible car accident.

It took a year to recover but by then his course had changed and his credits had fallen away. He turned to karate again, became super fit and started two karate clubs with over 100 students.

Mohanlall worked in a printing press for two years while teaching karate in the evenings and enrolled for Clinical Technology at DUT in 1995. “It was great getting a second opportunity to study so I was not going to waste it.”

Use what you achieve to help others and you will never have time to concentrate on your life’s shortcomings. One day those deeds will come back to help you.

Mohanlall's non-invasive 3DVG diagnostic and ECP treatment banners. A mini bypass animal study in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, pre-2008. Trained by the armed forces on chemical, biological and nuclear warfare EMS pre-2008.

He met his wife Nishara at DUT, and while working and teaching karate at night, he bought old cars to repair and sell for fees. “I remember working 36 hours non-stop alone to re-assemble a car just so that I would have it ready for sale. I have repaired and sold more than 60 cars in my lifetime!”

After completing his degree in 1996, Mohanlall worked at Wentworth Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Department as a cardiovascular perfusionist, operating the heart/lung machine during bypass surgery till the end of 2000, where he achieved a Diploma in Perfusion.

Mohanlall spent the next seven years in Saudi Arabia where he became Head of the Cardiovascular Perfusion Department at the North West Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk and achieved numerous accolades. There, he completed his BTech degree in 2001 through DUT and started his Master’s study after gaining ethical approval from DUT and North West Armed Forces Hospital.

He returned to South Africa in 2008 and submitted his Master’s, which was converted to a DTech degree. “Achieving this was one of my greatest achievements.”

In 2010, Mohanlall and his partners registered an NPO called Treating Hearts Association to get funding for poor and desperately ill patients. “I tried hard to get Government’s assistance for the last 10 years to make these valuable technologies available, but to no avail.”

In 2012, Mohanlall began the Centre for Advanced Medicine by introducing the first state-of-the-art 3DVG machine on the African continent. He completed and published a new study on a Russian screening technology used for genetic mapping and organ dysfunction, and he opened a new SAECP franchise in Newcastle with a specialist medical doctor in 2017.

Mohanlall mentors students from various schools and universities on a regular basis and is a moderator for BTech and Master’s students from DUT. His centre, which was officially accredited as a Satellite Training Centre by the HPCSA in 2014, holds an MoU with DUT to train students on ECP and advanced technologies. He has presented at numerous national and international meetings and congresses and has been interviewed countless times.

Mohanlall has no work/life balance as he uses every single minute to its maximum: “Sleep is a necessity for me and not a luxury I can afford. There is too much left to do!” he said. “My task is to help people get better in every possible way. That is my life.”

He has been married for 21 years to a “wonderful, hard-working and selfless lady” who is a Maths and Science teacher with an Honours degree in Education Management. She left her profession to help Mohanlall cope with his brutal workload.

They have a 10-year-old daughter (Arya) and eight-yearold son (Rikaar). “One of my regrets is that I put my career before my life and had children late.”

Mohanlall collects exotic fish called Discus from the Amazon as a hobby. “They are breathtaking but a timeconsuming and expensive addiction.” In 2019, he found a way to treat ‘hole in the head disease’ in these fish using a plant extract from the South African Wormwood tree. He also loves gardening, and discovered a novel way to graft roses using the thorns to exchange genetic material and change their colour and size.

www.counterpulsation.co.za • www.scalenesouthafrica.com • www.internationalecpassociation.com