The best government heart hospital in India depends on where you are. Nationally, the Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre at AIIMS New Delhi (NIRF 1) and PGIMER Chandigarh (NIRF 2) run the largest cardiology and cardiac surgery departments in the public system. Three government institutes are built only for the heart: Sri Jayadeva Institute in Bengaluru, SCTIMST in Thiruvananthapuram (heart and brain) and GB Pant in Delhi. Several state medical colleges have their own cardiology institutes. This guide lists them with NIRF 2025 ranks where they exist, what each does, and how a new patient gets an appointment.
NIRF ranks medical colleges overall, not cardiology; the ranks below are overall positions in NIRF 2025 Medical (read 14 October 2026). Dedicated cardiac institutes that are not degree colleges are not ranked at all. For chest pain, go to the nearest hospital with an emergency and an ECG; none of this list is a substitute for that.
Table of Contents
Best government heart hospital in India: the shortlist
| Institute | City | NIRF 2025 (overall) | What it is | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi, Cardiothoracic Centre | New Delhi | 1 | Cardiology, cardiac surgery and cardiac radiology in one block; national referral | AIIMS Delhi OPD |
| PGIMER | Chandigarh | 2 | Advanced Cardiac Centre; referral for Punjab, Haryana, HP, J&K | PGI appointment |
| JIPMER | Puducherry | 4 | Cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery; central institute for the south-east | – |
| SGPGIMS | Lucknow | 5 | Cardiology and CVTS super-specialty departments | – |
| SCTIMST | Thiruvananthapuram | 17 | Institute of National Importance for cardiovascular and neurosciences | – |
| Madras Medical College, Institute of Cardiology | Chennai | 16 | Tamil Nadu’s state cardiology institute at Rajiv Gandhi GH | – |
| Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences | Bengaluru and Mysuru | not ranked | Karnataka government’s dedicated cardiac hospital; one of the largest cardiac centres in the country | – |
| GB Pant Hospital (GIPMER) | Delhi | not ranked | Delhi government super-specialty hospital with cardiology and cardiac surgery | – |
| KGMU, Lari Cardiology Centre | Lucknow | 8 | Uttar Pradesh’s state cardiology centre | – |
| AIIMS Rishikesh, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna | various | 13, 14, 19, 25, 27 | Cardiology OPDs and cath labs at the newer AIIMS | AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Jodhpur |
Source for ranks: NIRF India Rankings 2025, Medical. Sri Jayadeva and GB Pant are hospitals, not degree colleges in the NIRF sense, so they do not appear in the ranking even though they are among the busiest cardiac centres in India. Any of them can be the best government heart hospital in India for your family; for most people it is the nearest one with a cath lab.
AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER: the best government heart hospital in India for referrals
AIIMS New Delhi’s Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre is a separate building with its own OPD, emergency and cath labs; appointments are through the ORS portal (see the AIIMS Delhi appointment guide and the AIIMS Delhi doctor list for cardiology names). PGIMER’s Advanced Cardiac Centre is the referral point for the whole north-west; our PGI doctor list has the cardiology OPD days and the PGI rate list has what an echo or angiography costs there.
The dedicated government cardiac institutes
If you want the best government heart hospital in India that does nothing but hearts, these are the three. Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (jayadevacardiology.com) is Karnataka’s autonomous cardiac hospital, with campuses in Bengaluru and Mysuru, and takes patients from across the south at state rates. SCTIMST (sctimst.ac.in) in Thiruvananthapuram is a central Institute of National Importance for cardiovascular and neurosciences, known for cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology.
GB Pant (GIPMER) in Delhi is the Delhi government’s super-specialty hospital for heart, neuro and gastro, next to Maulana Azad Medical College (NIRF 26). Lari Cardiology Centre at KGMU serves Uttar Pradesh. Each registers new patients at its own OPD counter in the morning; none uses the AIIMS ORS system.
How to get an appointment at the best government heart hospital in India for you
- Carry the ECG, echo report and any angiography CD from wherever you were first seen; the cardiologist will want them before ordering repeats.
- Book on ORS for AIIMS, PGIMER and JIPMER; our AIIMS online appointment guide has the steps. State institutes register at the counter.
- Reach early. Cardiology OPDs register new patients in the morning and close counters by 10:30 to 11 AM at most institutes.
- Ask about Ayushman and state schemes. Angioplasty and bypass are PM-JAY packages; general-ward treatment is free for card holders at empanelled institutes. See how to use an Ayushman card at AIIMS.
- Expect a date for planned surgery. Bypass and valve surgery at AIIMS and PGIMER are often scheduled weeks ahead; the dedicated state institutes can be quicker.
What the best government heart hospital in India charges
Far less than private, but not free for everyone. At PGIMER an echo and an angiography are charged at published rates (see the PGI test rate list); AIIMS Delhi charges general-ward patients a small advance and waives tests up to ₹300. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY covers angioplasty, stents and bypass as packages at empanelled government hospitals, which is why the Ayushman desk is the first stop for most families. Our heart attack guide covers the warning signs.
Do you run a clinic or practise near AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER and Sri Jayadeva? We publish useful, accurate guest articles from registered doctors and clinics. Read our Write for Us guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the No. 1 government heart hospital in India?
By NIRF 2025 the best government heart hospital in India is AIIMS New Delhi (rank 1), whose Cardiothoracic Centre is the national referral for cardiac surgery, followed by PGIMER (2). Among dedicated cardiac hospitals, Sri Jayadeva in Bengaluru is the largest government one.
भारत का सबसे अच्छा सरकारी हार्ट हॉस्पिटल कौन सा है?
एम्स नई दिल्ली का कार्डियोथोरेसिक सेंटर (NIRF 1) और PGIMER चंडीगढ़ (NIRF 2)। सिर्फ दिल के लिए बने सरकारी संस्थान: श्री जयदेव (बेंगलुरु), SCTIMST (तिरुवनंतपुरम) और जी.बी. पंत (दिल्ली)।
Is bypass surgery free at AIIMS?
For Ayushman Bharat card holders in the general ward, yes, as a PM-JAY package. Other patients pay AIIMS’s general-ward rates, which are a fraction of private hospital prices; confirm the current figure at the AIIMS billing counter.
Which government hospital is best for a heart attack?
The nearest one with a cath lab, because treatment within the first hours matters most; in an emergency the best government heart hospital in India is the closest one. Use the list above for planned care and second opinions, not for an emergency.
Can I go to Sri Jayadeva or SCTIMST from another state?
Yes. Both take patients from anywhere in India; Sri Jayadeva charges Karnataka rates to all, and SCTIMST is a central institute. Carry your reports and register at the OPD counter.
Sources checked
- NIRF India Rankings 2025: Medical, read 14 October 2026.
- Sri Jayadeva Institute and SCTIMST websites for institute status.
- Our AIIMS and PGIMER guides, linked above, for appointment process, rosters and rates.
