Fortis Escorts Heart Institute

History and background

Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Okhla was established in 1988 and has become one of India's best-known cardiac hospitals. In 2013 it celebrated 25 years of cardiac care, and it reports more than 200,000 cardiac surgeries and 350,000 cath-lab interventions to date. The institute was founded by cardiac surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan, who returned to India from the United States to start it, and it now operates as part of Fortis Healthcare.

Specialities and centres of excellence

The hospital provides advanced cardiac care in complex angioplasty, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), cardiac pacing and electrophysiology, adult cardiac surgery, aortic aneurysm repair, LVAD support, heart transplantation, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, robotic surgery, and paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. It is also recognised for its work on gastrointestinal, pancreatic and liver disorders, including liver transplants and auto-liver transplants.

Technology and facilities

A 310-bed multispeciality hospital, Fortis Escorts combines dedicated cath labs, cardiac operating theatres and critical care units with the diagnostic and imaging services needed for complex heart cases. It is described as one of the leading heart hospitals in Delhi for open-heart surgery, heart failure care and heart transplantation.

International patients

The hospital treats a large number of international patients every year and has experience across all modalities of cardiac care, which is important for patients who need a definitive diagnosis, surgery and structured follow-up in one place. Its Okhla Road location, opposite Sukhdev Vihar Metro Station, is well connected to South Delhi and the airport.

How AlisPro MediTours supports your treatment

AlisPro MediTours is a medical travel coordination service, not a hospital. We do not provide medical treatment, and clinical decisions always rest with your treating doctors. What we do is make the journey to this hospital easier to plan and less stressful to manage.

After you send your medical reports through our enquiry form, our coordinators share them with the hospital's international patient team and help you obtain a written opinion and an estimated cost. If you decide to go ahead, we can help with the medical visa invitation letter, flight planning, airport pickup, accommodation near the hospital, local transport, interpreter support and appointment scheduling. During your stay we stay in touch with you and your family, and after you return home we help arrange follow-up consultations and access to your records.

Costs, package inclusions and waiting times vary by hospital, doctor and treatment, so we recommend asking for a written estimate that clearly states what is and is not included.

Before you travel

Preparation makes a big difference to how smoothly a medical trip goes. Gather your recent medical reports, imaging (with the discs or digital files), a list of current medicines and any previous operation summaries, and share them early so the hospital can give a realistic opinion before you travel.

Ask the hospital or your coordinator for the expected length of stay, the likely total cost and what it includes, whether a family member may accompany you, and what follow-up will be needed after you return home. Confirm the treating doctor's name, the accreditation of the department you will use and how emergencies are handled.

Most international patients enter India on a medical visa, which normally requires an invitation letter from the hospital. Check the validity of your passport, arrange travel insurance that covers medical travel where possible, and plan for extra days in case treatment or recovery takes longer than expected. Keep copies of all documents on your phone and in your luggage.

Travel guide: Delhi

Delhi is served by Indira Gandhi International Airport, and hospitals in the capital are usually 30 to 60 minutes from the airport depending on traffic and time of day. The Delhi Metro reaches most neighbourhoods and is a fast way to travel around the city, while taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available. Visitors staying for treatment often choose hotels or serviced apartments near the hospital in areas such as South Delhi, Saket, Vasant Kunj or Central Delhi. The weather is hottest from April to June, rainy in July to September, and most comfortable from October to March. Hindi and English are widely spoken.