Apollo Hospitals Bangalore Receives Dual AHA Certifications

Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore announced that it has become the first hospital in India to obtain both the Comprehensive Stroke Center and Comprehensive Chest Pain Center certifications from the American Heart Association (AHA). The dual certification follows an independent evaluation of the hospital’s ability to manage patients with suspected stroke or acute myocardial infarction from the moment they arrive in the emergency department through diagnosis, intervention and critical care.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disability in India, while cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly 36% of all deaths among adults aged 30‑69 years. Karnataka alone is estimated to have about 500,000 residents living with stroke. In Apollo’s Health of the Nation 2026 report, 45% of asymptomatic individuals who underwent coronary calcium scoring were found to have coronary artery calcification, underscoring the silent progression of heart disease.

The certifications evaluate the entire hospital’s emergency system rather than individual departments. Multidisciplinary teams—including emergency physicians, neurologists, cardiologists, radiologists, interventional specialists, intensive‑care teams and nursing staff—are assessed on their ability to follow standardized care pathways that minimise delays and improve outcomes.

D.P. Suresh, M.D., FAHA, Incoming Chair of the AHA International Committee, said that timely diagnosis and coordinated treatment for stroke or acute heart attack can significantly influence recovery, and that the AHA certification programmes recognise hospitals that consistently adhere to internationally accepted standards across the continuum of emergency care. Dr. A.N. Venkatesh, Senior Consultant and Head and Regional Director of Emergency Departments for Apollo Hospitals Karnataka, highlighted that every clinical decision for stroke or heart‑attack patients must be made quickly and in a coordinated sequence, reflecting years of strengthening emergency response processes. Akshay Oleti, CEO of Apollo Hospitals Karnataka Region, added that benchmarking against globally recognised standards encourages continuous improvement, greater consistency in care delivery and stronger organisational readiness during medical emergencies.

About Apollo Hospitals

Apollo Hospitals was founded by Dr. Prathap Reddy in 1983 with the opening of the first hospital in Chennai. Today it is the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform, operating over 10,400 beds across 76 hospitals, more than 6,600 pharmacies, 264 clinics, 2,182 diagnostic centres and over 800 telemedicine centres. The group is a leading cardiac centre, having performed more than 300,000 angioplasties and 200,000 surgeries. Apollo employs approximately 120,000 family members dedicated to delivering exceptional care.

References

1. Krishnan A, et al., Prevalence and determinants of delays in care among premature deaths due to acute cardiac conditions and stroke in residents of a district in India, The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, August 2023, Volume 15, 100222.

2. https://nimhansnhskan.in/research-papers/