The unfortunate and untimely death of a young patient in 1979 due to the lack of advanced healthcare in India and prohibitive cost overseas triggered a vision. For Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, physician and philanthropist, this was the defining moment which led to the establishment of the Apollo Hospitals Group of which he is the founder Chairman.

Growing from a 150 bed hospital in Chennai in 1983, to Asia's biggest hospital chain, the Apollo Hospitals Group has evolved into a globally respected brand, known for clinical excellence and quality patient care.

Combining the best in medical technology and research with sound  business sense, Apollo  Hospitals have many milestones  to  their  credit.  In  1998  the lndraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, was the first to perform a successful liver transplant in India. The Group has also been the first to perform multi-organ and cord blood transplants in India; to introduce new techniques in Coronary Angioplasty,  Stereotactic  Radio Therapy and Radio Surgery; the first in South East Asia to introduce the  16 Slice PET-CT Scan; and to introduce the most advanced Cyber Knife Robotic Radio Surgery System in Asia Pacific, the world's only such system designed to treat tumors  anywhere  in the body with sub-millimetre accuracy.

The Apollo Hospitals Group comprises 43 hospitals with over 9000 beds, six of which in India are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), a US-based accreditation body dedicated to improving healthcare quality and safety around  the world. The Group also undertakes research in its quest for quality. The Apollo Hospitals Education & Research Foundation (AHERF) was established to partner pharmaceutical companies in India, ensuring them access to global expertise and infrastructure facilities. AHERF seek to create a world­ class entity in clinical research and innovation.

To expand access, the Apollo Clinics were conceived as a one stop measure offering facilities for specialist consultation, diagnostics, preventive health checks and 24-hour pharmacy at 50 locations in India. Innovations are an ongoing part of the vision. "The Cradle" provides composite prenatal and postnatal care. Telemedicine offers online consultancy by specialists. Medical tourism has come to stay as people flock to India for affordable medical care. The Apollo Hospitals Group are recognised as the architect of modern healthcare in India putting social foundations under Dr. Reddy's vision: "Our mission is to bring healthcare  of international standards within the reach of every individual".

The Department of Posts honours the Apollo Hospitals Group by issuing a commemorative postage stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India