Apollo Hospitals

Visionary Behind Modern Healthcare in India

The tragic and untimely death of a young patient in 1979, caused by the lack of advanced healthcare facilities in India and the prohibitive cost of treatment abroad, became a turning point in Dr. Prathap C. Reddy’s life. This defining moment inspired him to establish the Apollo Hospitals, where he serves as Founder Chairman.

Growth of Apollo Hospitals

From a modest 150-bed hospital established in Chennai in 1983, Apollo Hospitals has grown into Asia’s largest hospital chain and a globally respected healthcare brand known for clinical excellence and high-quality patient care.

Blending advanced medical technology with sound management practices, Apollo has achieved numerous milestones:

• In 1998, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital performed India’s first successful liver transplant.
• First in India to conduct multi-organ and cord blood transplants.
• Introduced advanced techniques in Coronary Angioplasty, Stereotactic Radio Therapy, and Radio Surgery.
• First in South East Asia to introduce the 16-slice PET-CT Scan.
• Introduced the advanced CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling sub-millimetre precision in tumor treatment.

Scale and Global Accreditation

Today, the Apollo Hospitals Group comprises 43 hospitals with over 9,000 beds. Six of its hospitals in India are accredited by the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI), a global benchmark for healthcare quality and safety.

To promote research and innovation, the Apollo Hospitals Education and Research Foundation (AHERF) was established. It partners with pharmaceutical companies and fosters world-class clinical research and innovation in India.

Expanding Access to Healthcare

Apollo expanded its reach through Apollo Clinics, offering specialist consultations, diagnostics, preventive health check-ups, and 24-hour pharmacy services across 50 locations in India.

Innovative initiatives include:

• “The Cradle” – providing comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care.
• Telemedicine services – enabling remote specialist consultations.
• Promotion of medical tourism – making India a global destination for affordable, world-class healthcare.

A Legacy of Modern Healthcare

The Apollo Hospitals Group is widely regarded as the architect of modern corporate healthcare in India. Under Dr. Reddy’s guiding vision —

“Our mission is to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual.”

— the institution has combined social commitment with medical excellence.

In recognition of its pioneering role in transforming healthcare delivery in India, the Department of Posts has issued a commemorative postage stamp honouring the Apollo Hospitals Group.