Apollo Hospitals India receives international patients from 150 countries. Every day, across 74 hospitals, over 1,000 surgeries are performed, 5 organ transplants are completed, and 301 chemotherapy cycles are administered.
For international patients from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia researching complex treatment in India, this is the most experienced private network on the continent.
Three numbers define Apollo's standing. Its transplant programme has been the world's busiest since 2013, completing 25,700+ solid organ transplants.
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai is the only proton therapy facility in South Asia and the Middle East. Indraprastha Apollo New Delhi was India's first JCI-accredited hospital in 2005, re-accredited four consecutive times.
My 1Health is a global medical tourism company with offices in Kenya, Dubai, and the USA, partnered with Apollo Hospitals to assist international patients at no additional cost.
Our team handles free case review, specialist matching, written cost estimates, visa support, and full coordination from first enquiry to post-treatment follow-up.
This guide covers which Apollo branch suits your country and condition, what treatment costs look like in 2026, what technology is available, how long you will need to stay, what documents to send, and exactly how to begin.
Is Apollo Hospitals India Good for International Patients?
Apollo is the right choice for high-volume, high-complexity procedures where track record matters. Here is what the data shows.
- Organ transplantation: Transplant outcomes improve directly with programme volume. Apollo has performed 16,750+ kidney transplants and 3,950+ liver transplants. No other programme in Asia or the Middle East comes close.
- Proton therapy: Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai is the only proton therapy centre between Europe and Southeast Asia. For paediatric tumours, brain or spinal cord cancers, and head and neck cancers near critical structures, it is the only regional option. Full guide: Cancer Treatment in India — Proton Therapy at Apollo.
- Cardiac surgery: 236,000+ cardiac surgeries performed. Apollo Hyderabad holds a 98.5% confirmed cardiac surgery success rate. Newsweek ranked Apollo among the World's Best Hospitals for cardiology in 2024, 2025, and 2026. For prostate cancer treated with proton therapy, see: Prostate Cancer Proton Therapy India.
- Neurosurgery: 230,000+ neurosurgeries. World's first keyhole surgery for an insular brain tumour performed at Apollo Chennai in 2024. AI-assisted stroke diagnosis at Apollo Hyderabad reduced assessment time from 60 minutes to 2 minutes.
One Thing to Know Before You Start
Apollo is a large network, and response times for cost estimates can run 3 to 7 business days at busy branches.
Submitting your reports through My 1Health accelerates this because we have direct relationships with the international patient departments at each branch.
Ward experience also varies — Delhi and Navi Mumbai are consistently strong on international patient infrastructure; Guwahati and Ahmedabad are clinically excellent with a more functional setup.
Not sure if Apollo is right for your case? Get a free clinical review now.
What Specialties and Treatments Does Apollo Hospitals India Offer?
Apollo Hospitals India offers treatment across more than 55 clinical specialties.
The table below covers the programmes most commonly used by international patients, with the specific capabilities that distinguish each one.
For the full list of treatments within each specialty, see Apollo Hospital Locations in India- Top Destinations for International Patients.
Organ Transplantation
Apollo has been the world's busiest solid organ transplant programme since 2013, completing 25,700+ solid organ transplants with a confirmed 90%+ liver transplant success rate. ABO-incompatible transplants are available for patients without a blood-matched donor. Asia's first combined heart and liver transplant was performed here in 2015.
- Kidney transplant
- Liver transplant (adult and paediatric, from infancy)
- Heart transplant
- Lung transplant
- Pancreas transplant
- Bone marrow transplant
- Corneal transplant
- Intestinal transplant
Cancer Treatment (Oncology)
Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Chennai is the only proton therapy facility in South Asia and the Middle East, treating patients from 147 countries. India's first AI-Precision Oncology Centre operates within the Apollo network. Over 3 million cancer patients treated across 26 dedicated cancer centres.
- Proton beam therapy
- CAR-T cell therapy
- Robotic cancer surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- CyberKnife radiosurgery
- HIPEC
- Bone marrow transplant for cancer
- Paediatric oncology
Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology
236,000+ cardiac surgeries performed. Apollo Hyderabad holds a confirmed 98.5% success rate. Over 99.6% of bypass surgeries are performed off-pump, reducing complications for patients with diabetes or kidney disease. Newsweek ranked Apollo among the World's Best Hospitals for cardiology in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
- Bypass surgery (CABG), off-pump, and robotic
- Heart valve surgery
- TAVR
- Coronary angioplasty and stenting
- Heart transplant
- Paediatric cardiac surgery (from neonatal age)
- Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
- Electrophysiology and arrhythmia treatment
- Heart failure management
- Structural heart procedures
Neurosurgery and Neurology
230,000+ neurosurgeries completed. Apollo performed the world's first keyhole surgery for an insular brain tumour in 2024. AI-assisted stroke diagnosis at Apollo Hyderabad reduced assessment time from 60 minutes to 2 minutes. South Asia's first ZAP-X radiosurgery platform is at Apollo Delhi.
- Brain tumour surgery
- Stroke treatment (thrombolysis and thrombectomy)
- Deep brain stimulation
- Epilepsy surgery
- Cerebrovascular surgery
- Neuro-oncology
- Neurorehabilitation
- Paediatric neurosurgery
Spine Surgery
Robotic guidance achieves 1.5mm accuracy and reduces the screw revision rate from 4.9% to 0.6%. India's first lumbar disc replacement was performed at Apollo. Growth rods are available for children under 10 years with progressive scoliosis.
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Robotic spinal fusion
- Lumbar disc surgery
- Cervical disc replacement
- Scoliosis correction
- Spinal TB and infection surgery
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
- Paediatric spine surgery
Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement
500,000+ orthopaedic surgeries performed. The Mako robotic joint replacement and the NAVIO knee system are both confirmed. India's first Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was performed at Apollo. A total knee replacement, including pre-operative assessment, surgery, and physiotherapy sign-off, takes 10 to 14 days for international patients.
- Total knee replacement
- Total hip replacement
- Robotic joint replacement
- ACL reconstruction
- Complex fracture management
- Limb lengthening and deformity correction
- Paediatric orthopaedics
- Revision joint replacement
Gastroenterology and Liver
4,300+ liver transplants at 90%+ success. Apollo Kolkata introduced Eastern India's first Power Spiral Enteroscopy in 2024 and was first in India to introduce the Cellvizio System for real-time microscopic tissue analysis. Apollo Bariatric Centres are among India's largest for weight-loss surgery.
- Liver transplant (adult and paediatric)
- Liver resection
- GI cancer surgery
- ERCP
- Bariatric and metabolic surgery
- IBD treatment
- AI-assisted colonoscopy
- Laparoscopic abdominal surgery
Women's Cancer (Apollo Athenaa, New Delhi)
Asia's first dedicated cancer centre exclusively for women. Robotic organ-preserving surgery is the standard approach. Fertility preservation, onco-psychology, and palliative care are integrated under one programme. No equivalent facility exists in South Asia or the Middle East.
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine and endometrial cancer
- Peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Fertility preservation before treatment
Ayurveda — Apollo AyurVAID
India's first Ayurveda National Quality Award winner. 92% patient satisfaction across 400,000+ cases. Recognised by insurers for cashless in-patient treatment. The right choice for chronic conditions where conventional treatment has plateaued, not a replacement for surgery or acute care.
Medical Technology at Apollo Hospitals India
Apollo holds more named technology firsts in South Asia and the Middle East than any other private hospital network in India.
The table below lists the key clinical technologies available to international patients, with the specialty each serves and what it means in practice.
| Technology | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Proton Therapy (IBA Proteus Plus) | Cancer |
| ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery | Brain tumours |
| da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgery | GI, urology, gynaecology, cardiac, oncology |
| Renaissance Robotic Spine System | Spine surgery |
| MAKO Robotic Joint Replacement | Orthopaedics |
| AI-Precision Oncology Centre | Cancer |
| IBM Watson for Oncology | Cancer |
| 640-Slice CT Scanner (Aquilion One) | Diagnostics |
| PET-MR Suite | Cancer and neurology |
| Digital PET-CT Scanner | Cancer |
| Lokomat and Erigo Robotic Rehab | Neurorehabilitation |
| OrganOx Metra (Machine Perfusion) | Liver transplant |
| Total Marrow Irradiation (TMI/TMLI) | Bone marrow transplant |
| CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery | Cancer |
Looking for a specific treatment? Tell us your condition, and we will confirm availability.
Which Apollo Hospitals Branch Is Best for Your Country and Treatment?
The Apollo network has 74 hospitals. Eleven serve as primary destinations for international patients. Your country and your procedure determine the right branch — not the hospital's general fame.
| Your country | Recommended branch | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda | Indraprastha Apollo, New Delhi | Transplant, cardiac, cancer, neurosurgery, orthopaedics |
| Bangladesh, Myanmar | Apollo Multispecialty Hospital, Kolkata | Cardiac, oncology, paediatric transplant, neurology |
| Nepal, Bhutan | Apollo Excelcare, Guwahati OR Apollo Delhi | Cardiac, kidney transplant, neurosurgery, joint replacement |
| Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman | Apollo Proton Chennai (cancer) OR Apollo Delhi (transplant/cardiac) | Proton therapy, BMT, transplant, cardiac, women's oncology |
| Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan | Indraprastha Apollo, New Delhi | Transplant, oncology, cardiac |
| Indonesia, Cambodia, Southeast Asia | Apollo Proton Chennai (cancer) OR Apollo Navi Mumbai | Proton therapy, multi-specialty surgery, oncology |
Apollo Athenaa, New Delhi — Women's Cancer Only
Asia's first dedicated cancer centre exclusively for women. Apollo Athenaa covers breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers with robotic surgery and fertility preservation under one roof. For patients from the GCC and East Africa seeking a specialist women's cancer environment, there is no equivalent in the region.
Apollo AyurVAID — Chronic Conditions, Not Acute Surgery
Apollo AyurVAID operates 11 Precision Ayurveda inpatient hospitals across India. India's first Ayurveda National Quality Award winner. 92% patient satisfaction across 400,000+ cases. Recognised by insurers for cashless treatment. The right choice for chronic musculoskeletal conditions, post-stroke rehabilitation, and digestive disorders such as IBD.
➤ Which Apollo branch is right for you? We will match you in 24 hours, at no cost.
Is Apollo Hospitals India JCI Accredited? Rankings and Certifications
Yes. JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation is confirmed across 8 Apollo hospitals, making Apollo the most accredited private hospital network in India by this standard. JCI certification requires an independent external audit against the same safety and quality criteria applied to top hospitals in the USA, Germany, and Singapore. Here is the full picture.
| Accreditation / Award | Scope | What it means for patients |
|---|---|---|
| JCI Accreditation (Joint Commission International) | 8 Apollo hospitals | The global gold standard in hospital quality and patient safety; same standard as top hospitals in the USA, Germany, and Singapore; Indraprastha Apollo Delhi first in India (2005), re-accredited 4 consecutive times |
| NABH Accreditation | 37 Apollo hospitals | National Accreditation Board for Hospitals; India's official national hospital quality standard |
| Newsweek World's Best Hospitals — Cardiology | Global top 100 | Apollo ranked in 2024, 2025, and 2026 consecutively as one of the very few Indian hospitals in this global category |
| Newsweek World's Best Specialised Hospitals — Neurology | Global ranking | Apollo network confirmed in Newsweek neurology rankings |
| India's first JCI-accredited cancer hospital | Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai | First cancer hospital in India to receive JCI accreditation; also the only proton therapy centre in South Asia and the Middle East |
| JCI Stroke Management Certification | Apollo Hospitals Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad | First hospital in India to receive JCI certification specifically for acute stroke management |
| ACE 3.0 Quality Framework | All Apollo hospitals | Apollo's proprietary clinical quality platform tracks infection rates, mortality, and complication rates against international benchmarks |
| WHO Surgical Safety Checklist Compliance | All Apollo surgical programmes | Mandatory pre-operative safety protocol endorsed by the World Health Organisation |
For a patient from Nigeria, Kenya, or Bangladesh comparing Apollo to a local hospital, the practical meaning of JCI accreditation is this: every medication is electronically validated, every surgical procedure follows the WHO safety checklist, infection control is independently audited, and patient safety outcomes are tracked against international benchmarks. These are not internal claims — they are verified by an external body with no commercial relationship with Apollo.
Apollo Hospitals India Cost for International Patients (2026)
Treatment at Apollo Hospitals India costs 60 to 80% less than equivalent procedures in the UK, USA, or GCC — at a JCI-accredited facility with higher procedure volumes than most Western equivalents. A liver transplant at a UK private hospital costs USD 90,000 to USD 150,000. At Apollo in 2026, the same procedure costs USD 22,000 to USD 35,000. The table below covers the most common international patient procedures. These are ranges, not fixed prices — your final figure depends on diagnosis complexity, branch, and length of stay.
| Procedure | India (Apollo) | UK (Private) | Thailand | USA | GCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Transplant | USD 22,000–35,000 | USD 55,000–90,000 | USD 12,000–22,000 | USD 90,000–150,000 | USD 35,000–60,000 |
| Kidney Transplant | USD 13,000–18,000 | USD 40,000–70,000 | USD 6,000–12,000 | USD 70,000–120,000 | USD 25,000–45,000 |
| Cardiac Bypass (CABG) | USD 6,000–12,000 | USD 35,000–60,000 | USD 8,000–14,000 | USD 50,000–90,000 | USD 18,000–35,000 |
| Bone Marrow Transplant | USD 20,000–35,000 | USD 60,000–100,000 | USD 18,000–30,000 | USD 100,000–180,000 | USD 35,000–65,000 |
| Total Knee Replacement | USD 5,000–9,000 | USD 18,000–30,000 | USD 5,500–10,000 | USD 30,000–55,000 | USD 10,000–20,000 |
| Proton Therapy | USD 25,000–45,000 | N/A in the region | USD 50,000–80,000 | USD 80,000–150,000 | N/A — nearest is India |
| Brain Tumour Surgery | USD 8,000–18,000 | USD 40,000–70,000 | USD 10,000–20,000 | USD 60,000–120,000 | USD 20,000–40,000 |
The table does not include travel costs. For a procedure requiring 5 to 6 weeks in India, budget an additional USD 3,000 to USD 8,000 for flights, accommodation for you and a companion, transfers, and meals. Insurance is covered in the section below. For CABG surgery cost comparisons in detail, see:
Cost of CABG Surgery in India — Apollo, Kokilaben, Max
➤ Get your personalised written cost estimate before booking any flights.
How to Get Treatment at Apollo Hospitals India as a Foreign Patient
Apollo has treated international patients for over 40 years. Every step of the journey has a defined process. Here is exactly what happens, from first contact to flying home.
1. Send your reports to My 1Health
Contact us via WhatsApp (+1 718 550 0880) or email ([email protected]). Send your medical reports, imaging in DICOM format, and a brief description of your condition. We forward everything to the relevant Apollo specialist team with context, which accelerates the review compared to a direct submission.
2. Receive your treatment plan and cost estimate
The Apollo clinical team provides a treatment recommendation, surgeon match, and written cost estimate. Complex cases: 3 to 7 business days. Simpler procedures, such as orthopaedic consultations: 48 to 72 hours. No commitment is required at this stage.
3. Get your Medical Visa Invitation Letter
Once you confirm your decision, Apollo generates a Medical Visa Invitation Letter for the Indian embassy in your country. A tourist visa is not sufficient for transplant or cancer treatment. Apollo Delhi receives patients from 120+ countries annually — the visa process is well established. Visa details are covered in full in the section below.
4. Arrive and meet your dedicated coordinator
From arrival, one dedicated international patient coordinator handles your entire stay: admission, every appointment, language interpretation (Arabic, French, Swahili, Bengali, English, and others depending on the branch), and daily liaison with the clinical team. The International Patient Lounge provides Wi-Fi, SIM support, accommodation referrals, and meals adapted to patient preferences.
5. Daily clinical briefings
You and your companion receive a briefing every day. If anything changes clinically, you are told directly. No surprises.
6. Post-treatment follow-up from home
After discharge, your Apollo consultant is available for video consultations. All records are accessible digitally to share with your local physician. My 1Health's team follows up proactively for 90 days post-treatment.
Insert service icons
53,000+ patients assisted from 95+ countries since 2018
350+ JCI and internationally accredited hospital partners
0 additional cost to you — same-price guarantee, verified
What Documents Do You Need to Send to Apollo Hospitals India Before Travelling?
Send what you have. The most common cause of delay is patients waiting until they think they have everything. The Apollo specialist team can begin a review with partial records and advise on what is missing.
For All Procedures
- Current medical reports from the past 6 to 12 months
- MRI, CT, or X-ray images in DICOM format on CD or USB — phone photos are not accepted
- Blood tests: full blood count, liver function, kidney function, blood group
- Biopsy or histopathology reports were available
- Discharge summaries from previous hospitalisations
- Full medication list with dosages
Additional Documents by Procedure
- Transplant (kidney or liver): Viral serology (hepatitis B, C, HIV), echocardiogram, HLA typing, where performed
- Cancer: Pathology report with tumour histology, staging reports, prior chemotherapy or radiation records, and PET-CT where available
- Cardiac: Echocardiogram, coronary angiogram or catheterisation report, ECG, stress test results
- Bone marrow transplant: Bone marrow biopsy with cytogenetics, HLA typing, full blood count with differentials, and prior chemotherapy records
- Neurosurgery: MRI with gadolinium contrast for brain cases; full spine MRI for spinal cases
- Paediatric cases: Complete vaccination record and growth charts in addition to the above
➤ Ready to send your reports? We forward them to the Apollo specialist team today.
How Long Do You Need to Stay in India for Apollo Hospitals Treatment?
The table below reflects minimum recommended stays for international patients, based on discharge policies and flight clearance timelines we have observed across hundreds of cases we have coordinated — not Apollo's marketing figures.
| Procedure | Total stay (recommended) | Inpatient days |
|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy / ERCP / Upper GI endoscopy | 3–5 days | 1–2 days |
| Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 4–6 days | 1–2 days |
| Knee or hip replacement | 10–14 days | 3–5 days |
| Cardiac bypass (CABG) | 12–18 days | 7–10 days |
| TAVR / cardiac valve | 8–12 days | 5–7 days |
| Liver transplant (adult) | 35–50 days min | 21–28 days |
| Kidney transplant | 21–28 days | 14–21 days |
| Bone marrow transplant (allogeneic) | 45–60 days | 30–40 days |
| Paediatric liver transplant | 45–65 days | 21–35 days |
| Proton therapy course | 28–56 days | Outpatient daily |
| Brain or spine surgery | 12–21 days | 7–14 days |
| Bariatric surgery | 5–10 days | 2–4 days |
Liver Transplant and BMT: Plan Further Ahead
A liver transplant requires a minimum of 35 to 50 days in India. Monitoring, biopsy, and anti-rejection titration must happen near the hospital before flying is medically safe. Plan for 6 to 8 weeks if possible. Bone marrow transplant (allogeneic) requires 45 to 60 days minimum. For paediatric BMT, parents should plan for 8 to 10 weeks. The haematology team sets the discharge date.
Shorter Procedures Are Genuinely Efficient
A knee replacement from Lagos or Nairobi — consultation, surgery, and physiotherapy sign-off — takes 12 to 14 days. A cardiac stenting procedure typically means 3 to 5 days total. India is efficient for short-stay procedures.
Does Apollo Hospitals India Accept International Health Insurance?
Apollo works with several international health insurers. Whether your policy covers treatment here depends on the procedure, the branch, and your specific plan terms.
Confirmed Insurance Partners
Insurers with confirmed relationships with Apollo include
- Bupa International
- Cigna Global
- Allianz Care
- AXA Partners
- Aetna International
- United Healthcare Global
- GlobeMed.
Verify current status with the My 1Health team before travelling, as partnerships and direct billing arrangements change.
How Insurance Works at Apollo
• Direct billing (cashless): Apollo confirms coverage with your insurer before your procedure. You pay only the co-payment or excess. Available at select branches for select insurers.
• Reimbursement: You pay Apollo at discharge and claim back using Apollo's itemised invoice. Most African and South Asian patients use this route.
• Pre-authorisation (GoP): Most insurers require a Guarantee of Payment before elective procedures. Allow 5 to 10 business days. Apollo's billing team manages this once you confirm insurer details.
By Corridor
• GCC patients: Many employer plans in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar cover JCI-accredited hospitals abroad. Apollo Delhi and Navi Mumbai both qualify. Confirm procedure-specific cover with your insurer.
• East and West Africa: NHIF (Kenya) and NHIS (Nigeria) rarely extend to treatment abroad at full cost. Most patients self-pay. India's 60 to 80% cost advantage over the UK or the USA makes this viable.
What insurance never covers: cosmetic procedure components, personal expenses, companion travel, and experimental treatments. Factor these into your budget regardless of insurance status.
Have an insurance question before you travel? Ask our team directly.
India Medical Visa for Treatment: What Apollo Hospitals Patients Need to Know
A standard tourist visa (Category T) is not accepted for organ transplantation or cancer treatment in India. International patients travelling to Apollo for these procedures must hold a Medical Visa (Category MED).
The process is straightforward once you have your appointment confirmation from Apollo.
Who Needs a Medical Visa for India?
- All patients travelling for organ transplant (kidney, liver, heart, lung, BMT)
- All patients travelling for cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, proton therapy, and surgery
- Patients whose total stay in India will exceed the permitted period on a tourist visa
- Patients from Pakistan and Afghanistan must register with the nearest police station within 24 hours of arrival, regardless of visa type
What Documents Are Required?
- Valid passport with at least 6 months' validity remaining
- Medical Visa Invitation Letter from Apollo Hospitals — My 1Health arranges this after your treatment plan is confirmed
- Confirmed appointment letter or treatment confirmation from Apollo
- Medical reports supporting the reason for treatment
- Proof of financial means to cover treatment and stay
- Completed Indian visa application form (submitted online at indianvisaonline.gov.in)
For Family Members Travelling with You
Accompanying family members qualify for a Medical Attendant Visa (Category MEDX), which runs co-terminus with the patient's medical visa. One parent travelling with a child patient qualifies automatically.
The MEDX visa allows the attendant to extend their stay if the patient's treatment period is extended, which is particularly relevant for liver transplant and BMT patients.
Processing Times by Region
- East Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana): typically 5 to 10 business days
- South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan): typically 3 to 7 business days
- GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar): typically 3 to 7 business days
- Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar): typically 5 to 10 business days
Patients staying in India longer than 180 days must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. Apollo's international patient team provides assistance with this, where required.
My 1Health handles the Medical Visa Invitation Letter as part of the standard coordination process. Once your treatment plan is confirmed, we request the letter from Apollo on your behalf and provide it directly to you. There is no additional charge for this.
Frequently Asked Questions: Apollo Hospitals India for International Patients
Connecting patients to world-class medical care through our trusted hospital network
