Indraprastha Apollo Hospital extending its services to T&T

Medical tourism is not a new concept—it has existed for thousands of years.

While Trinidad and Tobago is still developing its position in this space, India has firmly established itself through institutions like Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, which is now extending its services to T&T.

The Indian-based hospital in Chennai has been offering packages to those seeking services such as complex multi-organ transplants (beyond basic kidney procedures), advanced cancer treatments such as Proton Beam Therapy and CyberKnife, and the routine use of robotic-assisted surgeries across various specialties.

Apollo is known for its sophisticated minimally invasive cardiac procedures, deep brain stimulation for neurological disorders, and highly intricate microsurgeries. In diagnostics, Apollo utilises cutting-edge imaging like 320-slice CT scans and PET-CT, alongside comprehensive genetic and molecular testing for precision medicine.

This is complemented by their highly integrated “Centres of Excellence” across numerous super-specialties and advanced digital health platforms, offering a scale and depth of highly specialised, technologically advanced, and multidisciplinary care that currently surpasses what is broadly available in T&T.

Why T&T?
In an interview with the Express Business, Dr Harinder Sidhu senior vice president corporate development at Apollo Hospitals, said their interest in T&T stemmed from aspiration.

“As we sought new opportunities to extend our international footprint, T&T stood out as a nation with strong healthcare foundations, skilled professionals, and a government genuinely committed to advancing health outcomes for its people. We would like to thank Matthew Sammy from the Caribbean Health Access for bringing this opportunity to us and guiding us in our engagement with T&T as the territory lead for Apollo Hospitals in the region,” said Sidhu in an e-mail exchange with the Express Business.

Sammy is the hospital’s territory lead for the Caribbean.

Sidhu added that Apollo sees T&T as exceptionally well-positioned to emerge as a key healthcare hub for the Caribbean.

“Its stable governance, robust public health infrastructure, and talented medical workforce create a natural platform to serve not only its own citizens but also patients from neighbouring island nations who look to T&T for specialised care.”

With the establishment of Apollo’s Caribbean Hub in Port of Spain, the vision is to create a central point for coordinating clinical partnerships, extending educational programmes, and facilitating advanced tertiary referrals throughout the region—while serving the people of T&T and the broader Caribbean.

Asked what specific healthcare needs or system gaps Apollo aims to address in T&T, Sidhu said rather than seeing them as “gaps”, Apollo views them as opportunities to collaboratively build on T&T’s existing health infrastructure.

“Enhancing areas such as oncology services, advanced cardiac care, and complex surgical capabilities along with other specialties aligns well with our expertise and emerged as natural priorities through discussions with the Government. Apollo Hospitals also proudly operates JCI-accredited hospitals, representing the highest standard of hospital accreditation in the international community. We would be pleased to guide hospitals in T&T on their journey toward achieving such accreditations by sharing our expertise in quality systems, patient safety, and clinical protocols,” he explained.

Sidhu added, “While capacity-building takes time, Apollo stands ready to support immediate needs by offering patients requiring complex surgeries and procedures seamless access to our network in India through the Apollo Caribbean Hub.”

Partnerships underway
Apollo already works with several insurance providers to serve T&T and remains open to further collaboration with the private healthcare sector.

“We have been actively working with the Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) and insurance companies from T&T for the past few years to serve the people of T&T. More recently, we have had the privilege to engage with the Ministry of Health. These discussions have provided valuable insights into the Government’s vision for healthcare, and we are truly impressed by the clarity and commitment shown to advancing national health outcomes.”

He added, “Apollo is presently working to align collaborative proposals and frameworks with these identified priorities. Our approach is entirely partnership-driven, fully guided by T&T’s healthcare policies and regulatory standards. We also remain open to collaborations with the private healthcare sector in T&T to ensure a comprehensive approach to strengthening care delivery.”

Some of the insurance providers Apollo Hospitals works with are: Guardian General Insurance Ltd, Guardian Life of the Caribbean Ltd, Republic Life Insurance Company Ltd, Sagicor General Insurance (T&T) Ltd, Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) among others.

Asked whether Apollo could launch 24/7 or other digital health solutions in underserved areas like rural T&T, Sidhu responded definitively: “Absolutely. One of Apollo’s core strengths lies in its expertise in developing comprehensive digital health ecosystems. We can help build platforms similar to Apollo 24/7 that facilitate teleconsultations, chronic disease management, and follow-up care — bridging geographic distances and reducing the need for patients to travel long hours for routine consultations. We can also assist in implementing other digital solutions, including telemedicine, tele-emergency, tele-ophthalmology, teleradiology, e-ICUs, and remote community healthcare programmes, all thoughtfully tailored to support T&T’s healthcare delivery objectives,” he said.

Reducing outbound travel
Touching on Apollo’s strengths in oncology, cardiovascular care, and diagnostics, and whether these could reduce the need for outbound medical travel from T&T, Sidhu said Apollo’s overarching aim is to bring advanced medical expertise and resources closer to home so that fewer citizens need to travel abroad for specialised treatments.

“This will be supported through visiting specialist teams, collaborations on advanced diagnostics with local hospitals, and telemedicine-enabled multidisciplinary case discussions to keep care anchored within T&T. Alongside these, we stand ready to share with T&T the latest advanced technologies and assist in building complex programmes in areas such as robotic surgeries, bone marrow transplants, liver and kidney transplants, and other sophisticated procedures,” he said.

Asked about opportunities for clinical training, medical fellowships, or knowledge exchange between Apollo and T&T’s medical professionals or institutions, Sidhu said this is one of the most important dimensions of the proposed collaboration.

“Apollo would be honoured to offer observerships at its hospitals in India for doctors, nurses, and allied professionals from T&T, giving them exposure to complex cases across multiple specialties. We also envision sending senior consultants to conduct on-site specialty clinics and workshops in T&T, supported by regular CME sessions, case discussions, and joint quality initiatives.”

Sidhu continued: “Additionally, through Medvarsity, Apollo’s dedicated online education platform, healthcare professionals can access over 200 globally accredited courses covering clinical areas such as emergency medicine, critical care, oncology, infection control and diabetes and hypertension management. These flexible, self-paced programmes allow doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals to build new competencies alongside daily responsibilities. We would be glad to tailor learning pathways that align with T&T’s evolving needs, ensuring continuous skills development and fostering a rich culture of knowledge exchange.”

Regarding the use of AI-driven clinical tools or telemedicine platforms to manage chronic diseases prevalent in T&T, Sidhu said Apollo has developed a range of AI-enabled tools to support early detection, risk prediction, and proactive management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

“Introducing these solutions in T&T could help reduce complications, improve patient quality of life, and ease burdens on the healthcare system. Any such deployment would be carefully aligned with national health strategies and local regulatory frameworks to ensure seamless integration with existing care pathways.”

Addressing the possibility of direct investment in T&T’s healthcare infrastructure—such as a specialty clinic, diagnostic centre, or joint-venture hospital—Sidhu said Apollo’s current focus is on acting as a technical partner to support the country’s healthcare priorities through capacity building, workforce development, digital health, and advanced clinical care coordination.

“We believe the most meaningful contribution at this point lies in leveraging Apollo’s extensive experience and resources to complement local efforts — helping elevate standards, share expertise, and ensure patients receive timely, high-quality care,” he said.

Affordability and accessibility
On the matter of affordability and accessibility, Sidhu stressed that these have always been central to Apollo’s mission.

“Having served millions of patients from more than 140 countries belonging to a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds, we have developed models that combine clinical excellence with cost efficiency. India itself has long been recognised for its focus on delivering high-quality healthcare at affordable costs, and Apollo’s philosophy resonates strongly with this approach.”

He added that for T&T, in addition to capacity-building initiatives with the Government, services offered through the Apollo Caribbean Hub—which facilitates treatment in India for complex cases that still require referral—are designed to be financially sustainable and widely accessible, with transparent pricing, no waiting periods, and outcomes that meet global standards.

“Patients will benefit from concierge services coordinated by the Apollo Caribbean Hub under the leadership of Matthew Sammy. Our care is delivered by highly trained and experienced specialists at high-quality, JCI-accredited facilities, providing an additional layer of assurance on safety and outcomes. As local collaborations expand, we will continue structuring solutions to be sensitive to community needs, so that high-quality care remains within reach for all segments of the population,” he said.

Sidhu shared that Apollo Hospitals was founded over four decades ago by Dr Prathap C Reddy, who returned to India after years of medical practice in the United States with a singular dream: to bring world-class healthcare to India’s doorstep. His vision was not only to elevate clinical standards but also to make high-quality care accessible and affordable for all. Over time, that dream expanded beyond India—evolving into a global mission to deliver trusted, evidence-based care to patients around the world. trinidadexpress.com