Stem Cell Transplant Cost in India – Know who and when requires Stem Cell Transplantation

With advancements in the field of medical sciences, it has become possible to cure several abnormalities which were earlier unthinkable. Let us discuss one such revolutionary treatment “Stem Cell Transplantation” and its expenses in India.

Stem cell transplantation is a ground-breaking medical technology that has made it possible for many patients suffering from fatal diseases in India and across the globe to enjoy a new lease of life. Stem cell transplant is used to cure many lethal diseases. In this post, you will learn about stem cell transplant meaning and the pioneering procedure of stem cell transplant in India and its costs.

What Do You Understand By Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)?

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is commonly known as bone marrow transplantation. This is a medical procedure done to replace the damaged bone marrow of a person with healthy stem cells.

When the hematopoietic stem cells of a person get damaged, they can be replaced by healthy stem cells including platelets, WBCs, and RBCs which are important for the regular working of the human body.

Who and When Requires Stem Cell Transplantation?

The HSCT procedure is recommended for patients when the bone marrow of the person is not able to produce healthy blood cells. This may cause due to many reasons, such as;

Failure of Bone marrow (also called as Aplastic Anaemia)
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
Immune system, blood or metabolic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, among others
As per the exact need, a varied process can be used to restore the generation of normal cells in the bone marrow.

What is Stem Cell Transplant Cost in India?

Depending on the treatment, the stem cell transplant cost in India can range between INR 15 to INR 25 lakh in India. However, the cost of stem cell transplant in India may vary considerably depending on many factors including the kind of transplant done – allogeneic or autologous transplant.

The word ‘auto’ means ‘self’ and in Autologous transplant, the stem cells are taken from the same person who gets the transplant done. Hence, in this case the patient and donor are the same person.

On the other hand,  ‘Allo’ in Allogeneic transplant is a word that means ‘other’. Hence, in this case the stem cells are taken from a person other than the patient. This person/donor can be either an unrelated or a matched related donor.

With a high success rate, the stem cell transplant has become quite popular these days in cities across the country.

Cost of Stem Cell Transplant for Different Diseases in India

As stated earlier, stem cells can be used to cure several diseases. Hence, depending on the particular disease for which the procedure is performed, the stem cell therapy cost varies. Below are some critical diseases along with their treatment costs:

Diseases	Approx. Cost of Treatment
Cerebral Palsy	INR 5.7 to INR 7.6 lakh
Spinal Cord	INR 5 to INR 5.8 lakh
Blood cancer	INR 8 to INR 20 lakh

 

Factors that Affect the Cost of Bone Marrow Surgery in India

There are many factors that affect the cost of bone marrow surgery in India. Some of them include the hospital you choose to get the surgery done, the procedure chosen by the hospital for the surgery, the health condition of the patient and more.

Here are some costs that are inevitable for bone marrow transplant:

Pre – Hospitalization Costs: The pre-hospitalization cost that is required for bone marrow surgery before the actual surgery takes place include a basic health check-up which might cost between INR 5,000 to INR 10,000.
Particular Tests Pertaining to the Treatment: Depending on the kind of bone marrow transplant, various tests may be recommended to the patient undergoing the treatment, such as Colour Doppler, Ultrasound, CT scan, and so on. The costs for such tests might range between INR 10,000 to INR 15,000.
Transplant/Surgery Cost: On the basis of the type of surgery conducted as well as the sessions required, the surgery alone may cost between INR 15 lakh to INR 25 lakh
Extra Expenses: Besides the above, there are many other added expenses such as immunosuppressant injections that are prescribed after the surgery, follow-up sessions as prescribed by the surgeon, post-surgery costs etc., which might range up to INR 50,000.

Is Transplant of Bone Marrow Easily Affordable?

The transplant of bone marrow is not at all easily affordable. The HSCT treatment cost starts from INR 12 – 15 lakh, which most Indian households cannot afford. Although the cost of HSCT is much less in India as compared to many countries abroad. However, it is not cheap or easily affordable in any way.

Studies say that as many as 70% of patients in India detected with leukemia cannot afford the treatment due to monetary constraints.  Thus, people from low income families who are suffering from lethal diseases find it difficult to fight such diseases due to the huge costs involved.

Hence, it is crucial to have a financial backup in the form of a comprehensive health insurance plan with good coverage so that you remain covered for such emergency healthcare expenses.

Does your Insurance Cover Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant?

It is a relief to note that there are several health insurance companies offering insurance coverage against critical diseases like bone marrow transplant under various health insurance plans.

However, other than bone marrow surgery, most health insurance plans may not allow coverage against other stem cell transplants. Hence, some medical conditions may not be covered by health insurance plans.

Even in the case of bone marrow surgery using haematopoietic stem cells, the coverage is available only under the critical illness health insurance plans. But your medical practitioner should confirm that you are eligible for this treatment. Only then you can proceed to avail the benefits of the treatment under the health insurance policy.

Things to Remember Regarding Stem Cell Transplantation Coverage

There are some very valid and important points to consider while claiming Stem Cell Transplantation costs from your insurance provider in India. You should note that a stem cell transplant process involves two individuals –  the one who is donating the stem cell and the other one is the patient. Though, many insurers cover the donor’s expenses but they come with several restrictions.

Thus, in most cases the health insurance policy covers the policyholder. On the other hand, in terms of donor expenses, only the in-patient hospitalization charges are covered. Hence, it is important to confirm the exclusions in your health insurance plan before purchasing any policy.

Further, the waiting period imposed on the health insurance plan is another important point to note in case of plans offering critical illness health insurance. Maximum insurers impose a 90 days waiting period with 30 days of survival period under critical illness insurance plans.