Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
Major multi-specialty hospital offering advanced cardiac, oncology, transplant, orthopaedic and neurological care.
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Okhla, Delhi
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute
A Centre of Excellence in Cardiology for over 37 years, and one of the few Delhi hospitals offering heart, liver, and kidney transplant under one roof.
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute is a 310-bed, NABH-accredited cardiac-focused hospital in Okhla, New Delhi, with 13 operation theatres and 5 cath labs. It began in 1988 as the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, founded by the Escorts Group, and was where renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan practiced before founding Medanta in 2005. The hospital later became part of Fortis Healthcare, which itself is now majority-linked to IHH Healthcare, one of the world's largest healthcare groups, following a 2018 acquisition. Today it operates as a Centre of Excellence in Cardiology, and one of the few Delhi hospitals offering heart, liver, and kidney transplant under one roof.
Beds310
Founded1988
AccreditationNABH
LocationOkhla, Delhi
About the hospital
History, Ownership & Accreditation
From Tractors to Cardiac Care
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute has an unusual origin story: it was founded in 1988 as the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre by the Escorts Group — a company better known for agricultural machinery and tractors — reflecting a broader pattern in India of industrial conglomerates diversifying into healthcare in the late 1980s. The hospital built its early reputation in cardiac sciences, and was where renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan practiced until 2005, before he left to found Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram.
The hospital later became part of Fortis Healthcare, which itself was founded in 1996 as an offshoot of pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories. Following a 2018 ownership dispute and bidding war, Malaysia's IHH Healthcare — one of the world's largest healthcare groups — acquired a controlling stake of approximately 31%, making Fortis Escorts part of an international hospital network rather than a purely domestic chain.
1988
Founded as Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre by the Escorts Group
1996
Fortis Healthcare founded as an offshoot of Ranbaxy Laboratories
2005
Dr. Naresh Trehan departs to found Medanta – The Medicity
Early 2000s
Hospital becomes part of the Fortis Healthcare network
2018
IHH Healthcare (Malaysia) acquires ~31% controlling stake in Fortis Healthcare
Accreditation
NABH
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers — India's own quality benchmark for clinical care, patient rights, and hospital infrastructure.
Part of IHH Healthcare
Through Fortis Healthcare, part of IHH Healthcare's global network, which also operates hospitals across Singapore, Malaysia, Turkey, and other countries.
Specialties
Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
Heart Transplant
Liver Transplant
Kidney Transplant & Nephrology
Urology
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Bone & Joint (Orthopedics)
Critical Care
Hemato-Oncology
ENT Oncology
Breast Oncology
Palliative Medicine
What's treated here
Specialties & Care Team
Fortis Escorts is best known for cardiology, but also runs established transplant, oncology, and orthopedic programs. Below are the departments most relevant to international patients.
Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
A Centre of Excellence in Cardiology for over 37 years, supported by 13 operation theatres and 5 dedicated cath labs — among the highest concentration of cardiac procedure infrastructure in Delhi.
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
A dedicated pediatric cardiac surgery program treating complex congenital heart conditions in infants and children, including international cases referred from other countries.
Solid Organ Transplant
One of the few Delhi hospitals offering heart, liver, and kidney transplant under a single roof, with dedicated nephrology and urology teams supporting the kidney transplant program.
Bone & Joint Institute (Orthopedics)
Joint replacement and orthopedic surgery services, run alongside the hospital's core cardiac and transplant specialties.
Hemato-Oncology
Blood cancer diagnosis and treatment, integrated with the hospital's broader critical care and transplant infrastructure.
ENT & Breast Oncology
Specialized surgical oncology services for head and neck, and breast cancer cases, as part of the hospital's oncology offerings.
Nephrology & Urology
Kidney disease management and urological surgery, closely integrated with the hospital's kidney transplant program.
Critical Care
Dedicated critical care units supporting the hospital's high-acuity cardiac, transplant, and post-surgical patients.
Palliative Medicine
Specialized care focused on comfort and quality of life for patients with serious or advanced illness, alongside curative treatment pathways.
How you'll be matched with a specialist
Once you share your medical reports, our medical coordination team identifies the specific specialist(s) at Fortis Escorts whose experience best matches your condition. The hospital's team includes doctors who have received national civilian honors for their medical contributions — we'll confirm the specific specialist(s) relevant to your case, along with their qualifications and experience, before you commit to travel.
Getting there & settling in
International Patient Services at Fortis Escorts
As part of the Fortis Healthcare network — which has treated 200,000+ international patients from 175+ countries — Fortis Escorts offers a structured international patient program.
Pre-Arrival Medical Opinion
A detailed medical opinion and tele-consultation with the hospital's own doctors before you travel, so your treatment plan is confirmed ahead of arrival, not after.
Dedicated Relationship Manager
A relationship manager is assigned to each international patient, handling in-hospital needs and administrative processes throughout your stay.
Visa & FRRO Assistance
Support with visa documentation and FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) formalities, plus complimentary two-way airport transfers.
Accommodation & Attendant Stay
Accommodation assistance for you and your attendant, with complimentary in-room stay for one attendant, and alternative arrangements made during your surgery.
Practical Support
A local SIM card on arrival, language interpreters, foreign exchange conversion, complimentary Wi-Fi, and multiple accepted payment currencies including USD, GBP, and Gulf currencies.
Post-Treatment Follow-Up
Daily updates for referring doctors and family during your stay, plus discharge planning, departure coordination, and follow-up support after you return home.
If your treatment involves organ transplant: Fortis specifies that both patient and donor need to provide old medical reports, visa, passport, a copy of the treatment quotation, and passport-size photographs — for the donor as well as the patient. This is worth planning for early given the additional legal steps involved in transplant cases.
How HealPassage fits in
Fortis Escorts' own International Patient Team handles visa documentation, accommodation, and on-the-ground logistics once your case is accepted. HealPassage's role is what happens first — reviewing your reports, getting you a treatment plan and cost estimate, and making sure everything Fortis needs from you (including donor documentation, for transplant cases) is ready before you travel.
Common questions
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute FAQs
Answers to what patients most commonly ask about this specific hospital.
Is Fortis Escorts only for heart patients? ＋
No, despite the name, it also runs established programs in liver and kidney transplant, orthopedics (Bone & Joint Institute), oncology, nephrology, and urology. Cardiology remains its core strength, having been a dedicated cardiac Centre of Excellence for over 37 years.
Who owns Fortis Escorts Heart Institute? ＋
It's part of Fortis Healthcare, an Indian hospital network that itself is now majority-linked to IHH Healthcare of Malaysia, one of the world's largest healthcare groups, following a 2018 acquisition. The hospital was originally founded in 1988 by the Escorts Group before becoming part of Fortis.
Is Dr. Naresh Trehan still associated with this hospital? ＋
No. Dr. Trehan practiced at this hospital (then Escorts Heart Institute) until 2005, after which he left to found Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram, where he currently practices. This is a well-documented part of the hospital's history, not a current affiliation.
What accreditation does Fortis Escorts hold? ＋
NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) accreditation. It has also received specific industry recognition, including being honored at the Advantage Healthcare India 2025 Medical Value Travel Awards for its cardiac care programs.
Does Fortis Escorts help with organ transplant documentation? ＋
Yes, but note that for organ transplant cases, both the patient and the donor need to provide documentation — including medical reports, visa, passport, treatment quotation, and photographs. This is in addition to India's legal requirements around donor eligibility (near-relative donors for foreign patients), which HealPassage can walk you through separately.
Does Fortis Escorts provide airport pickup and interpreters? ＋
Yes, complimentary two-way airport transfers and language interpreters are part of standard International Patient Services, along with a dedicated relationship manager assigned to each patient.
How do I get a treatment plan and cost estimate from Fortis Escorts? ＋
Share your medical reports and condition details with HealPassage, and if Fortis Escorts is a good fit for your case, we'll coordinate with their specialists to get you a treatment plan and cost estimate — typically within 24-48 hours.
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