New Delhi: In a significant move to strengthen its presence across India, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL) has unveiled plans to add 1,600 new hospital beds over the next 12 to 14 months. This expansion marks a major step in the company’s ongoing strategy to enhance healthcare capacity and efficiency across the country.
Expansion Across Key Indian Cities
The new facilities will come up in Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram, and Kolkata, reinforcing Apollo’s footprint in high-demand urban healthcare markets.
Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of AHEL, said the initiative signals the start of Apollo’s next growth phase. “Over the next 14 months, we’ll commission 1,600 additional beds. Once operational, these will drive revenue growth — with existing facilities contributing around 12% and new additions gradually accounting for another 5%, taking total growth to nearly 18% over the next three years,” Reddy explained.
Rising International Patient Demand
Reddy also highlighted a steady rise in international patient inflow, noting that around 60% of patients from Bangladesh returned for treatment in October. Growing demand from Iraq, Indonesia, Brunei, and several African nations continues to make international healthcare a key growth driver for Apollo.
Strengthening Insurance Partnerships and Women’s Health
On the domestic front, Apollo Hospitals is deepening collaborations with insurance providers, especially for newer establishments such as the Apollo Hospital in Pune and the Athena Women’s Oncology Centre.
Reddy emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between insurers and healthcare providers, saying that “integrated collaboration across the healthcare value chain is essential to ensure sustainable, high-quality care for all.”
Expanding Retail Pharmacy Network
In addition to hospital expansion, Apollo has been actively growing its retail presence. The group added 148 new pharmacy outlets in FY26, expanding access to affordable medicines across multiple regions.
“These stores might not boost margins immediately,” Reddy said. “However, as they mature over the next three to four years, we expect them to deliver solid profitability — potentially achieving double-digit margins.”
Long-Term Growth and Investment Plans
Looking ahead, Apollo Hospitals revealed a total capital expenditure plan to add 4,300 beds at an estimated investment of ₹8,300 crore. Of this, around ₹5,000 crore remains to be deployed as part of ongoing projects.
With this expansion, Apollo Hospitals continues to cement its leadership in India’s healthcare sector — scaling both its physical capacity and its ability to serve a growing base of domestic and international patients.
(Photo courtesy: commons.wikimedia/Irshaaadk)