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About Apollo Hospitals Chennai
Apollo Hospitals Chennai is one of the flagship hospitals of Apollo Hospitals Group — Asia's largest and most trusted integrated healthcare services provider. Founded in 1983 by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Apollo transformed Indian healthcare and pioneered the concept of corporate hospital management in South Asia.
The Chennai facility is particularly renowned for its cardiac surgery outcomes, performing over 5,000 heart surgeries annually with success rates comparable to leading US and European cardiac centers. The liver transplant program at Apollo Chennai is one of Asia’s most experienced, with over 3,000 liver transplants performed — among the highest volumes globally.
Apollo’s International Patient Services division handles over 120,000 international patients annually from more than 120 countries. The dedicated international patient center provides comprehensive coordination including remote consultation, visa assistance, accommodation, and post-treatment telemedicine monitoring.
Accreditations & Certifications
JCINABHISO 9001
Medical Specialties
Cardiac SurgeryOncologyLiver TransplantBone Marrow TransplantNeurosurgeryOrthopedics
Languages Spoken
EnglishHindiArabicRussianFrench
Awards & Achievements
- JCI Accreditation — maintained since 2007 (multiple renewals)
- NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) Gold Standard certification
- 1,000+ successful liver transplants annually — Asia's highest volume
- 5,000+ cardiac surgeries annually with 99.8% success rate in eligible patients
- ISO 9001:2015 certification across all departments
- Apollo Foundation — 40 million free consultations provided since inception
Honest Assessment: Strengths and Limitations
Every hospital has genuine strengths and real tradeoffs. Here is our editorial assessment of Apollo Hospitals, based on published outcomes data, accreditation records, and patterns reported by verified patients:
✓ Genuine Strengths
- Genuinely high surgical volume in cardiac and oncology care, correlating with the lower complication rates published in their outcomes data
- Extensive network across India means a second opinion or specialist referral within the Apollo group is straightforward if your case is unusual
- English-language documentation and communication throughout, reflecting India's broader medical education system
⚠ Worth Knowing Before You Book
- Chennai's summer heat and humidity (April-June) can make early recovery mobility genuinely uncomfortable — plan travel dates around this if possible
- As one of India's largest hospital groups, the specific campus and consultant you are assigned can vary — always confirm the exact location and named surgeon before booking
- Traffic between international patient accommodation and the hospital can add real time to daily physio or follow-up visits — factor this into your recovery logistics
Patient Reviews
The international patient department at Apollo Hospitals Chennai made everything seamless. From my first inquiry to discharge, every step was handled professionally. I would not hesitate to return.
Outstanding quality of care. The surgeons here are clearly world-class, and the nursing staff were attentive around the clock. Clean, modern facility. Highly recommend for international patients.
My experience at Apollo Hospitals Chennai exceeded every expectation. The English-speaking coordinator was available day and night. The price was a fraction of what I would have paid at home.
International Patient FAQ
Get a Quote from Apollo Hospitals Chennai
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Get Free Quote Now →About Apollo Hospitals
Founded in 1983 by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Apollo became India's first corporate hospital and has grown into Asia's largest integrated healthcare chain, with 73 hospitals nationally. The Chennai flagship performed India's first coronary artery bypass in 1984.
Strengths and Considerations
✓ Strengths
- Asia's largest hospital chain with exceptional depth in cardiac and transplant surgery
- Published outcomes data for cardiac procedures comparable to US STS benchmarks
- Decades of accumulated international patient experience since the 1990s
- Dedicated international patient lounges separate from general hospital areas
- Strong multi-specialty capability — useful if your case involves more than one department
Things to Consider
- As with any large hospital chain, care quality can vary somewhat between the flagship Chennai campus and smaller regional Apollo locations — always confirm you are booking the flagship facility
- High demand for senior consultants can mean junior consultants are offered by default unless you specifically request a named senior surgeon
- Chennai's climate (hot, humid for much of the year) is worth considering for extended recovery stays
How We Verified This Clinic
This profile is compiled from publicly available accreditation records, InterHealthTour's own partnership due diligence (facility inspection, credential verification, complaint history review), and verified patient reviews collected through completed bookings on our platform. We do not accept payment for positive coverage — see our How We Earn policy.
Sample Procedure Pricing
| Procedure | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Coronary Bypass (CABG) | $6,000-9,500 |
| Total Knee Replacement | $5,200-8,200 |
| Liver Transplant (live donor) | $42,000-62,000 |
| Cancer Treatment (per cycle) | $900-2,200 |
Prices are indicative ranges based on quotes collected as of Q1 2025 and vary by individual case complexity. Request a personalised quote for an exact figure.
Your Patient Journey at This Hospital
International patients typically engage Apollo's international patient office 3-4 weeks before travel for complex procedures like cardiac surgery or transplantation, allowing time for a thorough remote review of medical records and a video consultation with the treating specialist. The hospital's international patient lounge handles visa documentation support, accommodation arrangement, and interpreter services where needed, and most complex cardiac cases require 3-4 weeks in Chennai for surgery and initial recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors at This Hospital
A selection of specialists treating international patients at this facility — ask your coordinator to confirm your specific treating physician during consultation.
Dr. Rajiv Kumar
Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Over 5,400 cardiac surgical cases including complex bypass and valve procedures. Trained at Apollo's flagship Chennai programme with additional fellowship training abroad. Regularly consults with InterHealthTour's medical advisory board on cardiac case suitability for international patients.
Dr. Meena Krishnan
Consultant Oncologist
Specialises in solid tumour surgery and chemotherapy protocol design, with particular focus on breast and gastrointestinal cancers. Extensive experience treating international patients requiring multi-cycle treatment plans.
What Patients Say
“My Toronto cardiologist actually recommended looking into Apollo after seeing their published outcomes data. Dr. Kumar had trained partly abroad and explained every step of the procedure clearly. The ICU was better equipped than what I had seen at a hospital I visited in Canada previously.”
“Six cycles of chemotherapy coordinated across two trips, with detailed remote monitoring between visits. The oncology team's communication was consistently clear, and the cost saving compared to Singapore private treatment was substantial without any compromise I could identify in care quality.”
Booking and Insurance Notes
For complex cases like cardiac surgery or transplantation, InterHealthTour's coordination team helps assemble the medical records package Apollo's specialists need for an accurate remote assessment, and supports the e-Medical Visa application process alongside your treatment confirmation letter. Given the procedure complexity typically involved, comprehensive medical tourism insurance with a high evacuation coverage ceiling is strongly recommended — see our dedicated insurance guide for specific coverage levels to look for.
Our Assessment
Apollo Hospitals Chennai continues to anchor much of India's international patient volume for complex cardiac, oncology, and transplant cases, backed by outcomes data that increasingly stands comparisons with Western centres. For patients weighing India against other destinations for complex, high-cost procedures specifically, Apollo's combination of surgical volume, English-language care, and published clinical results makes it a genuinely strong starting point for further research.
Before booking, confirm which specific Apollo campus you will be treated at (the flagship Chennai facility versus a regional location), your named surgeon's individual case volume, and full itemised package costs in writing.
Accreditation verification: Apollo Chennai's JCI and NABH accreditation status can be independently verified through both accrediting bodies' public databases — we recommend doing this directly rather than relying solely on marketing materials, however reputable the hospital chain.
This profile was last reviewed and updated by InterHealthTour's medical advisory board in Q1 2025, reflecting current accreditation status and pricing data collected from Apollo Hospitals directly, including confirmation of continuing JCI compliance.