Hyderabad, March 25, 2025: Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad has set a new benchmark for stroke care in the country with the Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) certification by the American Heart Association (AHA). With the AHA certification, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, has successfully demonstrated that it meets the most stringent criteria in emergency response with specialized stroke teams, stroke diagnosis with advanced imaging, and critical care, distinguishing it as the first institution in India to earn the AHA’s highest possible stroke-care certification.
Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad has a dedicated and specialized, multidisciplinary stroke team on standby 24/7, made up of emergency physicians, neurologists, interventional neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, intensivists, and specialized nursing staff. The multidisciplinary team of experts includes Dr Alok Ranjan-Sr Consultant & HOD- Neurosurgery, Dr. Imron Subhan, Senior Consultant & Head – Emergency Medicine; Dr. K. Subba Reddy, Senior Consultant Intensivist & Head of Critical Care; Dr. Suresh Girgani, Interventional Neuro Radiologist and Dr. C. Rajesh Reddy, Neurologist.
Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director- Apollo Hospitals Group said “Achieving the prestigious AHA certification as the first hospital in India marks a significant milestone, validating our unwavering commitment to providing world-class healthcare. Recognizing that time and skill save lives, we leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of excellence. This certification assures patients of the fastest, most accurate care protocols, ensuring the best possible recovery. It reflects our relentless pursuit of excellence and adherence to global quality and patient safety standards.”
Mr. V. Tejesvi Rao, CEO, Apollo Hospitals – Telangana Region said, “This certification is an acknowledgment of the top-tier care we provide, and is also a significant milestone in our journey of transforming healthcare standards in the country. Adopting a cross-disciplinary approach to stroke care from diagnosis through rehabilitation, we ensure that every patient receives tailored medical intervention and critical-care support designed to minimize disability and accelerate recovery. Through strategic collaborations, continual research, and community outreach, we are elevating stroke care so that patients everywhere can have access to the highest standard of treatment.”
This accreditation milestone highlights the comprehensive approach taken by Apollo Hospitals to support patients from the initial onset of stroke symptoms through rehabilitation and post-stroke recovery. A stroke, often referred to as a “brain attack”, occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. This lack of blood flow, typically due to a blocked or ruptured vessel, can lead to the sudden loss of certain bodily functions, such as the ability to speak, move, or use one side of the body. Swift detection and immediate care are crucial in minimizing disability and saving lives.
Dr. Imron Subhan, Head of Emergency Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad said, “Studies in Telangana have shown a need to provide structured clinical management in treating emergency stroke cases with stroke care services provided by organized multidisciplinary teams. With our dedicated emergency number 1066, connected ambulances where specialists can treat a patient while still on the road, well-trained emergency physicians and nurses, we are already delivering world-class stroke care. We are now proud to be the first AHA-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in India.”
India faces a growing health crisis when it comes to stroke, with lifestyle changes. In many regions, lack of awareness and insufficient emergency response systems hamper timely care. This can lead to worsened outcomes, including extensive neurological damage or death. Now, the new AHA-certified Comprehensive Stroke Centre at Apollo Hospitals signifies a ground-breaking improvement in how stroke cases can be identified, treated, and managed. By combining cutting-edge imaging equipment, real-time communication between EMS and hospital teams, and well-established treatment protocols that align with best global practices, patients at Apollo Hospitals now receive a unified care experience that dramatically increases the chances of recovery with fewer complications.
The Comprehensive Stroke Center certification by the American Heart Association, a global authority in cardiovascular, heart, and stroke care, is the gold standard for stroke care worldwide and requires hospitals to fulfill a rigorous set of requirements. Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, has met or exceeded each of these requirements, setting a benchmark in excellence for stroke care in India. These include:
- Integrated Emergency and Stroke Pathways with a highly efficient stroke-alert system, ensuring rapid identification of stroke patients even before they reach the hospital. This includes coordination between emergency medical services (EMS), a streamlined triage process, and the immediate administration of clot-busting drugs when appropriate.
- Round-the-clock availability of advanced imaging capabilities such as CT scans, MRIs, and other specialized neuroimaging to accurately diagnose stroke type and severity, enabling targeted interventions.
24/7 availability of interventional neurology services for advanced stroke interventions, such as endovascular thrombectomy (removal of clots through a catheter) at any hour, significantly improving patient outcomes.
- A specialized neuro-intensive care unit, staffed by experts in critical care and stroke management, is essential for ongoing patient observation, stabilization, and recovery.
- Continuous research and education in stroke care with training for medical personnel and patient education initiatives to maintain the highest standards of practice.
Apollo Hospitals has consistently been at the forefront of medical breakthroughs in India. Notably, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, was the first hospital outside the United States to be awarded a disease-specific accreditation for stroke management in 2006. This legacy of excellence has laid the foundation for more advanced programs that harness innovative technologies, multidisciplinary teamwork, and research-driven practices to fight the growing burden of stroke in India.
About Apollo Hospitals
Apollo revolutionised healthcare when Dr. Prathap C. Reddy opened the first hospital in Chennai in 1983. Today, Apollo is India’s largest integrated healthcare platform with over 10,000 beds across 73 hospitals, over 6000 pharmacies and over 200 clinics and diagnostic centres, as well as 150 telemedicine centres. It is the world’s leading Cardiac Centre with over 200,000 surgeries and the world’s largest private cancer care provider. Apollo continues to invest in research to bring the most cutting-edge technologies, equipment and treatment protocols to ensure patients have the best available care in the world. Apollo’s 100,000 family members are dedicated to bringing you the best care and leaving the world better than we found it.
