Apollo Hospitals for medical tourism in India is one of the most searched phrases by international patients planning healthcare travel — and for good reason. Over 40 years, Apollo has treated more than 150 million patients from 150+ countries, making it India's largest and most globally recognised private healthcare network.
India's medical tourism market is part of a global sector now valued at $84.5 billion in 2026. International patients come for heart surgery, cancer treatment, organ transplants, orthopedic procedures, neurology, fertility care, and dozens of other specialties — and many specifically request Apollo because they want a hospital whose name they already trust from their own country.
This guide explains what makes Apollo Hospitals a strong choice for medical tourism in India, city by city and specialty by specialty — in plain language, with verified facts rather than promotional claims.
Before looking at Apollo specifically, it helps to understand why India is one of the world's top medical tourism destinations in the first place.
India ranks alongside Thailand and Singapore as one of Asia Pacific's leading medical tourism destinations, with the region holding 46.4% of global medical tourism revenue in 2026 (Persistence Market Research).
For international patients, hospital accreditation is one of the most important safety signals before choosing treatment abroad. Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation is widely considered the international gold standard for hospital quality — and Apollo has achieved it across its network in seven cities.
| City | Hospital | JCI Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited — First in India (2005) |
| Chennai | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Hyderabad | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Bengaluru | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Kolkata | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Ahmedabad | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Navi Mumbai | Apollo Hospitals | JCI-accredited |
| Chennai | Apollo Proton Cancer Centre | Dedicated Proton Therapy Facility |
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi was the first hospital in all of India to receive JCI accreditation, in 2005 — a milestone that set the benchmark for international patient care in the country.
Numbers tell the story most clearly here. Apollo Hospitals has cared for over 150 million patients from more than 150 countries over 40+ years of operation. For an international patient weighing a significant medical decision, that scale of global patient experience matters — it means Apollo's teams have genuinely managed the full range of complex, multi-cultural, multi-language patient situations that medical tourism involves.
Many international patients need more than one type of care — a cardiac patient may also need diabetes management, a transplant patient needs nephrology, an oncology patient needs radiology, anesthesia, and ICU coordination. Apollo's multi-specialty network handles this within a single integrated system rather than sending patients between different hospitals.
Key specialties available across Apollo Hospitals include:
The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai is one of the key reasons international cancer patients travel to India specifically. Proton therapy is a highly targeted form of radiation that minimises damage to surrounding healthy tissue — particularly important for pediatric cancers, brain tumours, head and neck cancers, and prostate cancer.
In the USA and UK, proton therapy can cost $120,000–$180,000. At Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, the same treatment is available at significantly lower cost, with an internationally experienced oncology team managing every case.
Medical travel can feel overwhelming — there are medical reports to share, a specialist to identify, a cost to understand, a visa to arrange, accommodation to plan, and a follow-up programme to set up before you've even boarded a flight. Apollo's International Patient Services (IPS) team exists specifically to manage this end-to-end.
Apollo IPS can help with:
Cost is one of the most practical reasons international patients travel to India for treatment. Here's how Apollo's approximate treatment costs compare to standard rates in the USA and UK:
| Procedure | USA | UK | India (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Bypass Surgery | $100,000–$150,000 | £60,000–£80,000 | $5,000–$7,000 |
| Knee Replacement | $30,000–$50,000 | £15,000–£25,000 | $4,000–$6,000 |
| Liver Transplant | $300,000+ | £200,000+ | $25,000–$40,000 |
| Cancer Treatment | $60,000–$150,000+ | £40,000–£100,000+ | $4,000–$15,000+ |
| Hip Replacement | $30,000–$45,000 | £12,000–£20,000 | $4,500–$6,500 |
| Proton Therapy | $120,000–$180,000 | £80,000–£120,000 | $25,000–$50,000 |
Note: These are indicative figures. Final costs depend on diagnosis, procedure, doctor team, hospital location, room type, ICU use, medications, implants, and length of stay. Always request a written estimate before travel.
International patients typically request a specific doctor review — not just a hospital name — before committing to travel. Apollo's network includes specialist consultants across all major departments, many with international training, research publications, and subspecialty expertise in conditions that are difficult or expensive to treat elsewhere.
For medical travelers, the ability to share reports before travel and receive a written specialist opinion is particularly valuable — it gives patients the confidence to plan a journey around a specific doctor and treatment plan, rather than arriving and hoping for the best.
Apollo hospitals offer modern diagnostic and treatment technology relevant to international patients:
Not every Apollo location specialises equally in every procedure. Choosing the right city matters for both treatment access and practical travel logistics.
This is often the most overlooked part of medical tourism planning — and one of the most important. A patient who travels to India for surgery and then returns home needs a clear plan for wound care, medication, warning signs, report sharing, and online consultations.
Apollo's International Patient Services model includes post-discharge follow-up support, and its Apollo 24/7 digital platform enables video consultations with treating doctors from wherever patients are in the world.
Before leaving any hospital in India, every international patient should confirm:
Also Read: Advantages and Disadvantages of Medical Tourism: Complete Guide
Here is the ground-level process from first contact to post-treatment follow-up:
| Step | Stage | What Actually Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Share Medical Reports | Send diagnosis, test results, scans, prescriptions, and treatment history to the Apollo International Patient Services team. |
| 2 | Doctor Review & Opinion | The medical team reviews reports, may recommend additional tests, and suggests a specialist consultation or an initial treatment plan. |
| 3 | Receive Treatment Estimate | Receive a written cost estimate with the expected hospital stay. The final cost may change after the in-person examination. |
| 4 | Plan Visa & Travel | Arrange your medical visa, flights, and accommodation. Apollo IPS can assist with the required supporting documents for visa processing. |
| 5 | Arrival & Consultation | Attend the specialist consultation, complete any required tests, and get admitted if surgery or intensive treatment is needed. |
| 6 | Treatment & Recovery | The medical team provides treatment, surgery, monitoring, recovery care, and discharge instructions with written guidance. |
| 7 | Follow-up After Returning Home | Continue your recovery with follow-up reports, online consultations, prescription guidance, and emergency support coordination from home. |
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Apollo Hospitals for medical tourism in India draws patients from a diverse global pool. The most active sending countries and regions include:
Planning treatment in India? Liferx Healthcare helps international patients with hospital selection, doctor consultations, medical visa assistance, travel planning, and complete treatment coordination.
Apollo Hospitals for medical tourism in India is a genuinely strong option — not just because of its reputation, but because of verified facts: 150 million patients from 150+ countries, JCI-accredited hospitals across 7 cities, 40+ years of operation, a dedicated International Patient Services team, and treatment costs that are 40–80% lower than comparable care in most Western countries.
That said, medical tourism anywhere should never be rushed. Before travelling, share your complete medical records, request a written specialist opinion, understand what the estimate does and does not include, plan your follow-up care, and consult your local doctor about travel safety after the procedure.
Apollo Hospitals is a strong starting point for that conversation — and its International Patient Services team is designed specifically to help you begin it before you leave home.