India is among the world’s leading destinations for cardiac surgery. Hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, and Narayana Health perform tens of thousands of open-heart procedures every year — with outcomes comparable to top centres in the US and Europe, at a fraction of the cost.
Cardiac Procedures Cost Comparison
| Procedure | USA | UK (private) | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coronary artery bypass (CABG) | $70,000–150,000 | £25,000–45,000 | $4,000–9,000 |
| Aortic valve replacement (SAVR) | $80,000–160,000 | £25,000–50,000 | $5,000–10,000 |
| Mitral valve repair | $80,000–160,000 | £25,000–50,000 | $5,500–11,000 |
| TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve) | $60,000–100,000 | £30,000–60,000 | $12,000–18,000 |
| Pacemaker implant | $15,000–35,000 | £8,000–15,000 | $3,000–6,000 |
| Cardiac catheterisation (angioplasty + stent) | $30,000–70,000 | £10,000–20,000 | $2,500–5,000 |
Indian pricing includes ICU care, cardiac monitoring, and standard hospital stay. Excludes international travel and accommodation.
Why India for Heart Surgery?
Volume and experience: Top Indian cardiac surgeons perform 300–600+ open-heart cases per year — far above the average in many Western countries. High volume consistently correlates with better outcomes.
Technology: Apollo and Fortis hospitals have hybrid cardiac ORs, da Vinci robotic systems, advanced ECMO, and heart-lung bypass machines equivalent to any leading European centre.
Accreditation: JCI-accredited cardiac departments operate at Apollo Chennai, Apollo Mumbai, Fortis Gurugram, and several other centres. NABH (India’s national accreditation body) provides an additional quality benchmark.
Waiting time: Zero — procedures are typically scheduled within 1–2 weeks of confirmation.
Top Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery in India
Apollo Hospitals (Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi)
Apollo is India’s largest private hospital network with the most internationally recognised cardiac programme. Their Chennai cardiac team has operated on patients from over 120 countries.
Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (Delhi)
One of the highest volume dedicated cardiac hospitals in Asia. Particularly known for complex valve surgery and paediatric cardiac procedures.
Narayana Health (Bangalore)
Founded by Dr. Devi Shetty, one of the world’s most respected cardiac surgeons. Narayana performs over 32 cardiac surgeries per day across its network — making it one of the highest-volume programmes globally. Prices here are the lowest in India.
Medanta – The Medicity (Gurugram, near Delhi)
Multi-speciality hospital with a strong cardiac team. Popular with patients from the UK and Middle East.
What the Journey Looks Like
Before you travel:
- Gather all cardiac records: ECG, echocardiogram, angiogram/catheterisation reports, discharge summaries
- Most hospitals offer a remote pre-consultation with your assigned cardiologist or surgeon
- Visa: India’s e-Medical Visa can be obtained in 1–3 business days
On arrival:
- Hospital patient services typically arrange airport pickup
- Pre-surgical workup (bloods, ECG, echo) takes 1–2 days
- Open-heart surgery requires 7–10 days ICU/ward stay
- Plan for a total trip of 3–4 weeks minimum
After surgery:
- Follow-up cardiac rehabilitation can be arranged at home
- Indian hospitals provide detailed discharge summaries for your home cardiologist
- Telemedicine follow-ups are offered by most major centres
Important Considerations
Insurance: Check whether your travel insurance covers the condition you’re being treated for. Most travel policies exclude pre-existing conditions, so medical trip-specific insurance is essential.
Medication: India uses Indian Pharmacopoeia drugs — generally equivalent to branded versions but confirm with your home cardiologist before return.
Companion: For cardiac surgery, bringing a companion is strongly recommended. The recovery period (2–3 weeks) is emotionally and physically demanding.
Getting Started
Wellmap connects patients with verified cardiac centres in India and other countries. Our AI assistant can help you understand treatment options, compare hospital accreditations, and prepare questions for your pre-surgical consultation.