Why India Is the Best Option to Refer Patients: Apollo Chennai, Fortis, Medicover

In this Guide

• 3 top Ranked Hospitals in India
  • Apollo Chennai 
  • Fortis India 
  • Medicover India 
• Costs 
• How to refer 
• Before travel
• Data and consent 
• Plan changes 
• Aftercare 
• Tracking 
• Support

Someone in your community has just been told they need surgery, and they are asking you where to go.

If you refer patients to India, 3 hospitals stand out among our partners, each with JCI or NABH accredited sites:

1. Apollo Chennai for heart, liver and transplant care,
2. Fortis India for heart, liver transplant and blood cancer care
3. Medicover India for bone marrow transplant and joint replacement.

Surgical prices start from USD 6,000 for a coronary bypass (CABG) at Apollo Chennai and USD 15,000 for a bone marrow transplant at Fortis India (2026).

Indicative pricing only, subject to change. Your final quote is confirmed after a free consultation.

This guide covers what each hospital is known for, what treatment costs and how international patient referrals to India work from first message to payout.

At My 1Health, we have coordinated care for 54,000+ patients from 95+ countries since 2018, with 350+ partner hospitals in 21+ countries, so the partners who refer to us never carry the logistics alone.

When you refer, we handle hospital matching, cost estimates, visa letters and travel. One coordinator stays with your patient from referral to discharge, at no extra cost to them.

We take care of everything, so you can focus on getting better

Trusted by Millions Seeking World-Class Treatment

Instant visa letter

Flight bookings

Airport pickup

Accommodation

24/7 support

Find out what's included →

Which hospitals in India accept international patient referrals?

Apollo Chennai, Fortis India and Medicover India accept international patient referrals through My 1Health.

All three treat heart disease, transplants, cancer and joint or spine problems. What differs is what each is known for.

1. Apollo Chennai  ranked 6th in India by Newsweek and Statista, accredited by JCI since 2006
2. Fortis India  Fortis Memorial Research Institute ranks 14th in India, with JCI and NABH accreditation
3. Medicover India NABH accredited Hyderabad hospitals, with package prices shared before travel

Health checks are offered at all three, and IVF at Medicover India in Hyderabad.

How we choose between them

• A heart problem with a transplant question: Apollo Chennai, where the heart, kidney and liver teams share one hospital
• A child's heart, or a Delhi heart institute: Fortis India
• Blood cancer needing a transplant: Fortis India or Medicover India, matched to diagnosis and city
• A health check: choose by city, wherever your patient would rather land

Apollo Chennai: heart, kidney and liver transplant care

Apollo Chennai is a name most families already trust, and it is built for complex heart and transplant cases.

We work with Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, including Greams Road, Teynampet, and Thousand Lights (Heart Centre, Children's and Women's).

We provide hospital matching, cost estimates and visa support for all of them. Prices below are for Greams Road.

• Opened in 1983, ranks 6th in India in Newsweek and Statista's World's Best Hospitals 2026
• Accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) since 2006, renewed in March 2024
• Apollo Group: 12,000+ cardiac surgeries and 2,000+ transplants every year

Treatments at Apollo Chennai

1. Heart surgery
2. Cancer care
3. Kidney transplant
4. Liver transplant
5. Whole body health check

1. Heart surgery

Coronary bypass surgery (CABG) is open heart surgery that routes blood around blocked arteries using a healthy vessel from the leg, arm or chest. Expect a longer stay than after a stent.

• 40 years of cardiac care, 400+ heart specialists and four cath labs
• Robotic surgery on the da Vinci system, and TAVI and MitraClip valve repair through a catheter, without opening the chest
• Severe heart failure support: heart transplant, LVAD (a pump that helps the heart) and ECMO (temporary heart and lung support)

2. Cancer care

Greams Road treats bowel, liver and pancreatic cancers surgically, using open, keyhole and robotic techniques.

• Colorectal cancer surgery
• Hepatectomy: removal of part of the liver
• Whipple procedure: complex surgery for pancreatic cancer

We confirm the package and price case by case.

3. Kidney transplant

A kidney transplant replaces a failed kidney, so the patient can stop long term dialysis.

• 10,000+ kidney transplants at Apollo Chennai
• ABO incompatible transplants, where donor and patient blood groups differ, and minimally invasive donor surgery
• Most international patients use a living donor, usually a close relative

4. Liver transplant

For international patients this is usually a living donor operation. Part of a relative's liver is transplanted, and both livers regrow over the following months.

• Apollo Group: 5,000+ liver transplants, 500 of them in children
• Plan for several weeks in India and lifelong medicines that stop rejection

5. Whole body health check

A preventive screening that can be booked directly, with no remote assessment first. It is the easiest first referral for a patient unsure about travelling.

Greams Road also runs neurosciences, gastroenterology and orthopaedics, including robotic knee and hip replacement.

What the family should know about a living donor transplant

A transplant is a decision for the whole household, so we explain this at the start.

Prices are in the cost section below. Have a heart, cancer or transplant case? Ask us about Apollo Chennai on WhatsApp.

Fortis India: heart, liver transplant and blood cancer care

Fortis India covers Delhi NCR (Okhla, Gurugram, Noida) and Mumbai. JCI accreditation applies to select Fortis hospitals, and we confirm it for your patient's hospital in the written quote.

Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) has 330 beds and 107 ICU beds, and holds JCI and NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) accreditation.

Its Gamma Knife Esprit treats brain conditions with focused radiation and no incision, and its Elekta Unity MR Linac guides radiotherapy with live MRI.

Treatments at Fortis India

1. Heart care
2. Liver transplant
3. Blood cancer and bone marrow transplant
4. A child's heart
5. Robotic cancer surgery
6. Health checks and international desk

1. Heart care

Angioplasty with stenting opens a blocked heart artery.

A thin tube goes in through the wrist or groin, a balloon widens the artery, and a stent (a tiny mesh tube) keeps it open. Most patients go home within a few days.

Heart valve surgery repairs or replaces a damaged aortic or mitral valve, repairing the patient's own valve where possible. Double valve surgery is also available.

2. Liver transplant

Fortis runs adult, paediatric and ABO incompatible liver transplants (donor and patient blood groups differ) through its liver transplant and hepatobiliary (liver and bile duct) sciences programme, at Noida, Gurugram and Okhla, New Delhi. Your Referral Partner Manager confirms the package and price.

3. Blood cancer and bone marrow transplant

A bone marrow transplant (BMT) replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, for leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.

• Autologous: the patient's own cells
• Allogeneic: a matched donor
• Haploidentical: a half matched family member

Workup, transplant and recovery happen in one hospital, in a dedicated six bed unit at Mulund. Plan for a longer stay.

4. A child's heart

A parent who hears "heart surgery" about their child carries more than a medical decision. One coordinator stays with the family from arrival to discharge, and we explain each step in plain words.

• ASD closure: an atrial septal defect is a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart, closed with a small device or a surgical patch
• TOF repair: tetralogy of Fallot is four related defects that lower oxygen in the blood, repaired by open heart surgery, usually in infancy or early childhood

For a child with congenital heart disease, we look at Mulund before any other site.

5. Robotic cancer surgery

Fortis India offers 30+ robotic surgery packages, and Mulund has performed 500+ robotic surgeries on the da Vinci Xi.

• Colorectal: keyhole removal of part of the colon or rectum, most often for bowel cancer, which can mean less pain, less blood loss and a quicker recovery than open surgery
• Oesophagectomy: removal of part or all of the food pipe for oesophageal cancer

6. Health checks and international desk

A Basic Health Package and a Gold package (bloods, imaging and a consultation in one visit) can be booked directly. Fortis reports 200,000+ international patients from 175+ countries.

• A guest relations officer, with a facilitation counter at Delhi's international airport
• Interpreters, round the clock assistance, visa support, lodging and ticket help, and airport pickup and drop off
• Telemedicine and online follow up after discharge

Prices are in the cost section below. Have a child's heart, a liver transplant or a blood cancer case? Ask us about Fortis India on WhatsApp.

Medicover India: bone marrow transplant, joint, spine and IVF care

Medicover India publishes its package prices before a patient travels, so the number you give in the first conversation is one your patient can plan around.

The network runs 24 hospitals with about 4,800 beds across South and West India. Prices below are for Hyderabad.

Our packages are delivered in Hyderabad, at Hitech City and Financial District. Visakhapatnam (MVP) and Navi Mumbai also have dedicated international patient services.

Treatments at Medicover India

1. Bone marrow transplant
2. Joint replacement
3. Spine surgery
4. IVF
5. Health checks

1. Bone marrow transplant

Medicover India offers autologous (the patient's own cells), allogeneic (a matched donor) and haploidentical (a half matched family member) transplants, for children and adults with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other complex blood disorders. Your Referral Partner Manager confirms the package and price.

2. Joint replacement

Total knee replacement replaces the worn surfaces of the knee with a metal and plastic implant, usually for severe arthritis that no longer responds to medication or physiotherapy.

• Total knee, partial knee and hip replacements
• Robotic assisted joint surgery at Secunderabad (since January 2026) and Navi Mumbai
• Joints are planned in 3D before surgery, and most hip patients walk with support within a day or two

3. Spine surgery

Spine decompression relieves pressure on the spinal cord or nerves caused by a slipped disc or a narrowed spinal canal (spinal stenosis), easing back and leg pain, numbness or weakness. It is usually considered after other treatment has not helped, so ask your patient to bring their treatment history and scans.

4. IVF

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) helps people conceive when natural conception has not worked. Eggs are collected, fertilised in the laboratory, and a healthy embryo is placed in the uterus.

• IVF, ICSI, IUI, PICSI, PGT and fertility preservation, in Hyderabad
• ICSI places a single sperm inside an egg, and PGT tests embryos for genetic conditions

Many couples arrive after earlier cycles that did not result in pregnancy. We never promise an outcome. We promise a clear plan and a team that explains each step.

5. Health checks

Over twenty preventive packages, from basic screens to whole body and cancer screening, read on 640 slice CT and imaging with AI assistance.

Where your patient is treated

• Financial District, Hyderabad: a 24 floor tower opened in March 2026, with 550+ beds, 13 operating theatres and a da Vinci Xi robotic system
• Hitech City, Hyderabad: 510 beds and 130+ critical care beds, accredited by NABH

Each patient has a coordinator, with visa and travel help, translators and a second opinion service. Prices are in the cost section below. Planning a joint, spine, IVF or bone marrow referral? Ask us about Medicover India on WhatsApp.

How much does treatment cost in India in 2026?

In 2026, treatment at these three hospitals starts from USD 20 for a basic health checkup and from USD 4,105 for a knee replacement, and reaches USD 25,000 or more for a liver transplant. Every figure is a starting price, and every final quote follows a free consultation.

Cost of treatment at Apollo Chennai in 2026

Apollo Chennai treatment starts from USD 173 for a whole body check and from USD 25,000 for a liver transplant in 2026.

Indicative pricing only, subject to change. Your final quote is confirmed after a free consultation.Ask for the full Apollo Chennai price, stay included.

Cost of treatment at Fortis India in 2026

Fortis India treatment starts from USD 45 for a Basic Health Package and from USD 15,000 for a bone marrow transplant in 2026.

Indicative pricing only, subject to change. Your final quote is confirmed after a free consultation.Ask for the full Fortis India price, stay included.

Cost of treatment at Medicover India in 2026

Medicover India treatment starts from USD 20 for a basic health checkup and from USD 4,105 for a knee replacement in 2026.

Indicative pricing only, subject to change. Your final quote is confirmed after a free consultation.Ask for the full Medicover India price, stay included.

Final quotes move with the treatment plan, the complexity of the case and anything priced outside the package, such as spine implants. Health check packages include different tests at each hospital, so compare contents, not prices.

Say "from" and "indicative", never "fixed". The quote your patient receives later has to match what you said.

Paediatric heart surgery, Fortis liver transplant and hip replacement are priced case by case.

How do I refer patients to India? Seven steps to payout

7 steps take a patient from your first message to your payout. Health checks skip the report review and can be booked directly.

1. Ask for an estimate and a match. We give you both for the procedure your patient needs.
2. Send reports for remote review. Get your patient's consent first. The hospital's specialists then review the reports before any surgical package is confirmed.
3. Book the free consultation. The final quote is confirmed after it.
4. Confirm the written quote and book on RPNS. Go through the quote with your patient, then book on the Referral Partner Network System (RPNS). Formal referrals go to [email protected].
5. Arrange visa and travel. We arrange the visa letter and confirm the travel plan.
6. Treatment and discharge. One coordinator stays with your patient, and the discharge reports are shared so their own doctor can continue care at home.
7. Track your payout. Every case stays visible in your RPNS dashboard from submission to payout.

You carry the first conversation and your patient's trust. We carry the rest. Ask your patient to gather recent scans, the latest blood results and a clear history before the first consultation, and everything moves faster.

What do patients need to prepare before they travel?

Three things come first: medical reports the hospital's team can review, a valid medical visa and a treatment date agreed with the hospital. A companion and a plan for aftercare make the stay easier. Health checks need only the visa and the date.

• Reports and scans: recent imaging, blood results, current medications and a short history
• A valid medical visa: we help with the visa letter
• A treatment date: agreed once your patient accepts the quote
• A companion: a caregiver who travels with your patient, with emergency contacts written down
• An aftercare plan: recovery at home, review by their own doctor, and the discharge reports we share

Plan the money as carefully as the travel: flights, the companion's stay and the treatment itself.

If your patient needs a living donor. Both donor and patient complete a medical workup, and an authorisation committee must approve the transplant before surgery. Tell the family early, because the approval shapes the dates. The donor is making a significant sacrifice, so plan their stay as carefully as the patient's.

If the patient is a child. The whole family travels. A parent will often feel guilty about putting a child through this, and your steadiness matters more than you think. Tell them one coordinator stays with the family, and plan for schoolwork and the parent staying at home.

If the patient is starting IVF. Many couples arrive after earlier cycles that did not result in pregnancy, and some after loss. Be gentle, and honest about what any clinic can promise: a plan, not a guarantee.

If the stay will be long. Bone marrow transplant, liver transplant and bypass surgery need longer stays than a stent or a health check. Companions feel that length too, so suggest time off work and cover at home.

Not sure what the hospital will ask for? Check the document list with us on WhatsApp.

How should partners handle patient data and consent?

Get your patient's consent before you share anything. Explicit consent is recorded when you make the referral, and clinical data goes only to the receiving hospital and the treating specialist.

• Act with authority: if you refer on someone's behalf, you confirm you have their authority
• Use the Referral Partner Network System (RPNS), not informal channels: records shared through the platform are encrypted in transit and at rest
• Stay the main contact: you submit the enquiry on RPNS and remain your patient's main contact, while we handle the record transfers
• Expect booking status only: clinical updates do not come back to partners, only non medical booking status in your RPNS reports
• Be open with your patient: patients have the right to ask where their data came from, so tell them what you pass on
• Store safely: keep medical records and consent forms in secure storage

Unsure how to share reports securely? Ask us on WhatsApp.

What happens if my patient's stay or treatment plan changes?

The hospital confirms the plan after its specialists review the reports, and your patient receives the final quote in writing before they travel.

A plan can still change once the team examines your patient in person, so raise it in the first conversation.

1. Who pays for an extended stay?

Your patient pays all medical and related hospital charges, and our coordination adds nothing extra to their bill.

A complication or delayed discharge can add one to three weeks, especially for transplants, bone marrow transplant and complex heart cases.

We work with the hospital, and travel is rebooked where needed.

How long does a quote stay valid?

Do not quote a standard period. Check validity with your Referral Partner Manager on each case.

The treatment plan and estimate come from the hospital, they are free, and your patient decides afterwards whether to proceed.

SENA's instant estimate sets expectations before you submit a case, but it is not the hospital's formal quote.

What if the plan changes on arrival?

You are never expected to handle the clinical side. The hospital's doctors manage clinical care, and our case team handles escalation with the hospital, family communication, repatriation logistics and insurance disputes. Tests ordered on arrival are often missing from the quote, so add 30 to 40% to the hospital quote.

What to tell your patient: "The hospital confirms your plan after reviewing your reports and examining you. If anything changes, our team works with the hospital, and your travel is rebooked."

Ask us about the terms for your patient's package.

What aftercare can my patient get once they are home?

Follow up works remotely once your patient is home, with their own doctor involved. The local doctor receives the discharge summary and medication protocols, and follow up is coordinated between the doctor, your patient and the treating hospital. Fortis India and Medicover India also offer online consultations after discharge.

Transplant and bone marrow patients need regular blood tests and medicines for months or years, so the plan for home matters as much as the surgery.

What not to promise

• A shorter stay abroad: telemedicine does not shorten it. Allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients stay near the hospital for the full 100 days and need formal clearance from the transplant team before flying
• Medicines shipped across borders: we have not confirmed that transplant medicines can be shipped to your patient's country

Before your patient flies home, ask for:

• The discharge summary and all reports
• The medicine list, with doses and how long each continues
• The schedule for blood tests and checkups
• The name of the doctor at home who will monitor your patient, and a plan to share results with the hospital team

Planning a transplant referral? Ask us how follow up works for the package.

How do referral partners track cases and confirm terms?

Your Referral Partner Manager confirms your terms before you refer, and every case you submit appears in your RPNS dashboard from submission to payout. Terms are confirmed case by case, because inclusions differ by hospital and package.

Your Referral Partner Manager also handles cost estimates, visa letters, hospital matching, branded assets and packaged services. Your reputation rides on every referral, so we protect it three ways:

• One coordinator stays on the case from referral to discharge
• The hospital's own specialists review the reports
• Your patient has a written quote before they travel

Share the India assets with patients and your community while a case is prepared. Get your India assets.

New to the network? See how it works for referring doctors, travel agents and medical facilitators, or get started here.

Not sure which hospital fits? Talk to Referral Partner Support

Referral Partner Support gives you a person and a fast lane. The person is your Referral Partner Manager, who handles hospital matching, cost estimates and visa letters. The fast lane, open at any hour, is SENA, our digital assistant for referral partners, on RPNS and WhatsApp.

• Before a formal case: SENA gives an instant cost estimate, from cardiac surgery and transplants to joint replacement and health checks
• When choosing a hospital: SENA builds a shortlist from the procedure, your patient's budget and their location preferences

Two ways to reach SENA:

1. On RPNS: log in and select "Ask Sena" from the navigation.
2. On WhatsApp: first verify your phone number under Profile, then Account Settings. Then message +1 510 972 1011 and send "Hi Sena".

SENA is a digital assistant, so decisions on a specific case go to your Referral Partner Manager. Formal referrals go to [email protected].