Are you afraid of the thought of the high cost and complications related to bone marrow transplant?
You just want to see yourself or your loved ones receive the best possible medical care without straining your family’s finances.
You may think that your dream of a successful recovery and healthy future is impossible because of the high cost of bone marrow transplants and the expenses of travelling to another country.
But you do not need to worry about the cost any more because you can now avail top-quality medical care without paying a huge amount of money.
You can achieve your dream of giving yourself or your dear ones a healthy life through a low-cost bone marrow transplant in India is one way to do that.
The cost of BMT in India is significantly lower than that of its counterparts.
Let’s look at what factors impact the cost of bone marrow transplants in India and how you can save money.
What is a Bone Marrow Transplant?
Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a procedure in which damaged cells of your body are replaced with healthy ones using stem cells of your own or a donor.
Let us help you understand how it works. Blood-forming cells or blood stem cells are cells with the potential to transform themselves into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These cells are there in the soft tissues of your bones called bone marrow. These cells enter your bloodstream after they mature.
BMT is a non-invasive procedure. The doctors use an intravenous catheter or tube to help matured stem cells enter your bloodstream. So, it’s like getting blood or nutrients through an IV. The stem cells have the power to find their way from the blood cells to your bone marrow.
When do you need a Bone Marrow Transplant?
Certain medical conditions can hamper the function of your bonemarrow and decrease its effectiveness. When bonemarrow function is hampered, it leads to several conditions that are serious and need immediate attention.
Leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and thalassemia are some diseases that can damage bone marrow function. Apart from that, high-intensity chemotherapy can also damage your bonemarrow function.
You will need a bone marrow transplant when you have some diseases and conditions like sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, Krabbe disease, and severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome.
What is the cost of a Bone Marrow Transplant in India?
The cost of bone marrow transplants in India ranges between 15,000 USD (12,15,000 INR) and 65,000 USD (53,00,000 INR). The cost is significantly low compared to some of the developed countries and many factors contribute to this cost difference.
Now let’s check what is the cost of BMT in different cities of India.
| City | Cost |
| Hyderabad | 12,50,000 INR – 20,00,000 INR |
| Delhi | 15,00,000 INR – 25,00,000 INR |
| Chennai | 13,00000 INR – 22,00, 000 INR |
| Mumbai | 15,00,000 INR – 25,00,000 INR |
| Pune | 14,00,000 INR – 22,00,000 INR |
| Visakhapatnam | 12,50,000 INR – 20,00,000 INR |
| Bangalore | 15,00,000 INR – 23,00,000 INR |
Why is BMT so expensive?
Many factors affect the cost of BMT. let’s check them in detail.
Types of Bone Marrow Transplant
There are three types of bone marrow transplants, all of which have different cost ranges. The types of transplants you are undergoing. Suppose it is an autologous bone marrow transplant (bone marrow cells are derived from the patient himself) or an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (a close match donates bone marrow). In that case, the price will vary, mostly because in an allogeneic transplant along with another cost you need to pay the donor, too.
Let’s check the cost of all types of BMT in detail.
1. Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant
- When bone marrow is taken from the patient.
- The average cost of a bone marrow transplant ranges from 15000 – 24500 USD (12,15,000 INR- 20,00,000 INR) for an autologous transplant in India.
2. Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant
- When bone marrow is taken from the donor.
- Matched sibling (when the bone marrow cells antigen matches completely).
- Partially matched sibling (when the bone marrow cells antigen does not match completely).
- Parents who come in the category of Partially matched.
- The average cost ranges from 25000 – 37500 USD (20,25,000 INR- 30,37,500 INR) for an allogeneic transplant in India.
- The average cost ranges from 36000 – 50000 USD (29,76,330 – 41,33,792 INR) for a Haplo transplant in India.
3. Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplant
- The average cost ranges from 65000 – 90000 USD (53,73,930 – 74,40,826 INR) for an unrelated donor in India.
Location of the Hospital
Hospitals in metropolitan areas tend to incur higher expenses due to high operational costs. The cost of living in metros consistently surpasses that of neighbouring towns, impacting various aspects such as physician’s fees, staffing expenses, land prices, and overall expenditures.
For in-room facilities, charges are determined based on the room type and the stay within the BMT unit.
Pre-Transplant Evaluation Tests
Pre-transplant evaluation tests are done to check vital stats. Whether you are the right candidate for BMT and your medical history is evaluated by the doctors. These pre-transplant tests and evaluations add to the overall cost of the procedure.
Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Costs
The patient may need chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both if the immune system rejects the stem cells and kills the cancerous cells. The cost will vary depending on the type of procedure needed.
Post-BMT Care to Minimize Side-Effects
Post-BMT care like medications to lower the chances of side effects like diarrhea and nausea will also be included in the overall cost. Also, there will be other costs like accommodation near the hospital for follow-ups, blood tests and other tests to monitor your condition.
How to find the affordable & best Bone Marrow Transplant facility in India?
You need to do comprehensive research to find the best facility to undergo BMT in India. You should check their experience, patient outcomes, track record, overall cost, and facilities provided and compare those with other top facilities in India.
Here’s how you can save money on the cost of BMT in India:
- Opt for hospitals in non-metro areas to reduce operational costs.
- Learn about government or charitable assistance programs for financial support
- You can share accommodations to minimize in-room facility expenses
- You should also research and compare prices among different medical facilities for cost-effective alternatives
- You can inquire about potential discounts or packages for BMT services
- You should seek medical insurance coverage to lower the expenses significantly
- You can take the help of healthcare providers to negotiate and customize a more budget-friendly treatment plan
The best part is these are the organizations that can offer a good discount as they understand the demand and supply. However, you may need to wait for the right time when the demand is low. You should also try to look for organizations that have negotiated volume-based rates.
For any individual, this is a hard nut to crack. However, few organizations negotiate special rates for their patients during low-demand periods against a good volume and are willing to pass on the benefits to the patients.
How MedicoExperts can help you get a low-cost bone marrow transplant in India?
MedicoExperts can help you get the best bone marrow transplant in India within your budget. Our team will help you connect with the facility that offers the best care under your budget.
Our team will help you throughout your healing journey. From getting your visa to choosing the best hospital and doctors in India under your budget, we will be with you.
We will ensure that you get the best care post your bone marrow transplant within your budget.
Takeaway
Coming to India for a bone marrow transplant is the right decision you have made as the country offers affordable but top-notch medical facilities. You need to understand what are the factors that affect BMT cost and accordingly build your strategy for treatment to get the treatment under your budget.
Coming to India for a bone marrow transplant is the right decision you have made as the country offers affordable but top-notch medical facilities. You need to understand what are the factors that affect BMT cost and accordingly build your strategy for treatment to get the treatment under your budget.
MedicoExperts, an online virtual hospital offers a platform where you can access expert guidance and find more affordable ways to undergo bone marrow transplants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is a 50% match good for a bone marrow transplant?
A 50% match is good for a bone marrow transplant. It is a sufficient match and with that match, you have a chance of complete recovery.
Q2. How long can a person live after a bone marrow transplant?
A study shows that participants had a median follow-up time of 13.1 years after bone marrow transplant (ranging from 5.0 to 36.1 years), and their median age at the time of analysis was 46 years (ranging from 6 to 80 years).
Q3. Who can conduct a BMT?
For a bone marrow transplant, you will need a team of hematologists, an oncologist, a medical oncologist, a hematopathologist, an orthopedic oncologist, an immunologist, and a BMT specialist.
Q4. What is the cost of a bone marrow transplant in India for thalassemia?
The cost of a bone marrow transplant for thalassemia is between 15,00,000 INR (18,000 USD) and 30,00,000 INR (36,000 USD) in India.
Q5. How much does a bone marrow transplant cost with insurance?
The cost of a bone marrow transplant will be different depending on the insurer you have insurance with, policy terms, and the circumstances related to the transplant procedure.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2589364/pdf/yjbm00065-0150.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2834427/#:~:text=The%20median%20follow%2Dup%20after,%2C%206%20to%2080%20years
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/bone-marrow-transplant/sections/eligibility/oec-20212229
- https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/bone-marrow-transplant/about-bone-marrow-transplant-procedure/
- https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/transplants/bone-marrowstem-cell-transplant/bmt-faq
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103507/
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/bone-marrow-transplantation#:~:text=Bone%20marrow%20transplants%20may%20also,%2C%20and%20sickle%20cell%20anemia
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Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board On 20 August 2024
