Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC)

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC) is one of India's premier dedicated cardiac hospitals, located on Okhla Road, New Delhi-110025. Established as a standalone heart institute by the late Dr. Naresh Trehan and the Escorts Group, EHIRC built an international reputation over decades for complex cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, and paediatric heart care before becoming part of the Fortis-Escorts cardiac network — one of the world's largest cardiac care networks.

With 332 beds, a fully integrated 24-hour Heart Command Centre, and multiple cardiac catheterisation laboratories, EHIRC is one of the highest-volume cardiac centres in Asia, performing thousands of open heart surgeries and interventional procedures annually. The institute has performed over 100,000 cardiac procedures across its history and remains the destination of choice for complex cardiac cases from across South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its position in South Delhi provides convenient access from Indira Gandhi International Airport (approximately 20 km) and excellent connectivity across the Delhi-NCR region for both domestic and international patients seeking cardiac care in India. EHIRC's standing as a dedicated cardiac hospital — rather than a multi-specialty institution with a cardiac department — translates into institutional focus: every policy, process, and resource allocation decision at the institute is optimised for cardiac patient outcomes, creating a clinical culture of cardiac excellence that permeates all departments.

EHIRC offers the complete spectrum of cardiac care under one dedicated institution. Cardiac surgery expertise covers coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) — both on-pump and off-pump (beating heart) techniques — valve repair and replacement (including minimally invasive valve surgery), aortic surgery for aortic aneurysm and dissection, and complex re-operative cardiac surgery. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery and robotic cardiac surgery platforms enable precise procedures with smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, and faster recovery.

Interventional cardiology services include diagnostic coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty and stenting), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe aortic stenosis, structural heart interventions including ASD and VSD closure, and peripheral vascular interventions. Electrophysiology services cover comprehensive cardiac arrhythmia management including catheter ablation (radiofrequency and cryoablation), electrophysiology studies, and pacemaker and ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) implantation. Non-invasive cardiology encompasses advanced echocardiography (2D, 3D, transesophageal), cardiac CT angiography, nuclear cardiology (SPECT/MPI), cardiac MRI, and stress testing. The paediatric cardiac programme covers the full spectrum of congenital heart disease diagnosis and surgical and interventional correction in newborns, infants, children, and young adults.

EHIRC's 332-bed facility is purpose-built and dedicated entirely to cardiac care — ensuring that all infrastructure, staffing, and processes are optimised for cardiac patients. Multiple cardiac catheterisation laboratories equipped with biplane digital flat-panel fluoroscopy support complex interventional procedures and electrophysiology studies simultaneously. Advanced cardiac operation theatres with hybrid capability (combining surgical and imaging functions) enable complex structural and valvular procedures requiring both surgical and catheter-based approaches.

The 24-hour Heart Command Centre provides continuous monitoring and rapid response coordination for acute cardiac events — including STEMI (heart attack) alerts, post-operative cardiac surgical cases, and acute heart failure. Cardiac ICU capacity ensures dedicated intensive monitoring for post-operative and acute cardiac patients with continuous haemodynamic monitoring. The hospital maintains a dedicated echocardiography laboratory, 3D cardiac imaging capability, nuclear medicine cardiac scanning, and cardiac rehabilitation facilities for post-treatment recovery and long-term cardiac health management. A fully equipped blood bank, 24-hour pharmacy, and comprehensive emergency services support all patient categories. Advanced cardiac anaesthesia and perfusionist teams specialising exclusively in cardiac surgery and intervention complete the clinical infrastructure.

EHIRC has a well-established international patient services department supporting the large number of overseas patients who travel to India specifically for cardiac care. Services provided to international patients include pre-travel second opinion consultations based on medical records sent electronically, detailed cost estimates for proposed procedures, support with Indian medical visa applications through official hospital invitation letters, airport pickup and transfer coordination, accommodation arrangements near the hospital on Okhla Road, and post-procedure follow-up via telemedicine.

International patients benefit from cost savings of 60–80% compared to equivalent cardiac procedures in Western countries. A coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) that may cost USD 80,000–120,000 in the United States is available at EHIRC for USD 5,000–8,000 with equivalent surgical expertise and internationally sourced cardiac implants. Angioplasty with stenting is available at USD 2,500–4,500. The international patient coordinators at EHIRC speak English, Arabic, and Hindi, and the team has extensive experience supporting patients from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and other nations. Contact: Phone +91-11-47135000. Email: contact@ehirc.com. Website: www.ehirc.com.

EHIRC operates as part of the Fortis-Escorts cardiac network, adhering to Fortis Healthcare's network-wide quality framework which includes NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) compliance standards. Fortis Healthcare is one of India's largest hospital groups and maintains rigorous quality management systems across all its facilities. The cardiac outcomes data at EHIRC — including surgical mortality rates, post-operative complication rates, and long-term patient outcomes — are tracked and benchmarked against international cardiac surgery standards.

As a dedicated cardiac institute, EHIRC's entire focus on cardiac care translates into operational excellence: clinical protocols are highly specialized and regularly updated, surgical teams perform high volumes of each procedure type (ensuring skill maintenance and outcome consistency), and the support infrastructure is optimized for cardiac patients' specific needs. The institute's paediatric cardiac programme adheres to international paediatric cardiac surgery guidelines, and outcomes data for congenital heart disease surgery are monitored against global benchmarks. Patients are advised to contact the hospital directly to verify current accreditation certificates and to request the institution's cardiac outcome data.