Philips has entered into a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding with Apollo Hospitals to explore collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening stroke care and structural heart disease management across India.
Announced in New Delhi on February 19, 2026, the agreement outlines plans to develop technology-enabled care pathways informed by real-world clinical practice. Any specific initiatives under the MoU will be subject to definitive agreements and necessary regulatory approvals.
The collaboration seeks to combine Philips’ advanced imaging and image-guided therapy platforms with Apollo’s clinical expertise to support integrated decision-making across diagnosis and intervention. The focus is particularly on complex and time-sensitive cases, where rapid imaging, accurate procedural guidance and coordinated care pathways are critical to outcomes.
The partnership comes amid a rising burden of cardiovascular and neurological diseases in India. According to The Lancet Neurology, India recorded more than 1.25 million new stroke cases in 2021, nearly double the number reported in 1990, reflecting a sustained rise in incidence and prevalence over the past three decades. National mortality data from the Registrar General of India show that cardiovascular diseases are now the leading cause of death in the country, accounting for nearly one-third of all deaths. The trends highlight the need for integrated, technology-driven approaches spanning early diagnosis, intervention and long-term management.
The MoU was signed by Roy Jakobs, Chief Executive Officer of Philips, and Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Health Co Ltd, in the presence of Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder and Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group.
Under the proposed framework, the collaboration will concentrate on two priority areas. In structural heart disease, the focus will be on enhancing procedural precision, optimising contrast use and strengthening real-time imaging guidance during interventions. In stroke care, the partners intend to accelerate imaging workflows, streamline patient pathways and support interventions within the critical “golden hour.” Efforts will aim to reduce door-to-needle time, improve clinical efficiency and enable timely, standardised care in acute settings.
The initiative reflects a broader push toward data-driven, AI-enabled imaging integration and coordinated clinical pathways, as healthcare systems adapt to growing demand for high-acuity cardiovascular and neurological services across India.
