What is a Kidney Transplant?
A kidney transplant is the most reliable surgery for treating end-stage kidney disease, thereby offering a better quality of life. This procedure involves replacing a diseased or failing kidney with a healthy organ from a living or deceased donor.
There are mainly two types of kidney transplants: living donor and deceased donor. In a living donor transplant, the organ is donated by a living person - preferably a family member who is a good match (same blood type, better compatibility.)
A deceased donor kidney transplant involves a donated organ from a deceased person to a recipient on the transplant waiting list.
This is the go-to treatment for end-stage kidney disease, as it improves the quality of life in comparison to the other treatment option - dialysis. The following section lists the differences and why kidney transplant is better than dialysis.
Kidney Transplant vs. Dialysis
In comparison, dialysis (one of the other treatment options) is not the best option considering the following:
People with end-stage kidney disease would preferably choose a treatment option that does not require them to travel every day to a clinic. A kidney transplant is that one-time procedure that helps them find a long-term solution and a better quality of life.
Kidney Transplant Cost - Type and City-wise Comparison
Here’s a look at the different cost estimates for the procedure, depending on the type and the city in India. We’ll also look at the global cost comparisons.
Cost of Kidney Transplant Depending on the Type
The average kidney transplant cost in India can be around 4,00,000 to 12,00,000 INR ($8000 to $16,000.) There are mainly two types of kidney transplants; here’s a look at them with their respective costs:
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Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant: A deceased person’s kidney acts as the donor organ here. However, this is a challenging type, as there is a shortage of donor kidneys, which leads to long waiting lists. This type costs around $5800 to $15,000 (approx. INR 5,00,000 to 13,00,000).
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Living Donor Kidney Transplant: A healthy person donates one of their kidneys. Usually a family member or someone related by blood is preferred. This type costs around $7000 to $16,500 (approx. INR 6,00,000 to 14,00,000).
Types of Procedure
This is the cost consideration depending on the different surgical approaches that may be chosen depending on the patient’s health.
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Open Surgery - This is the traditional surgical approach that is taken for this treatment and is quite common. This approach leads to longer recovery time, increasing the chances of an infection.
The surgery costs around ₹4,00,000 to ₹10,00,000, which on average can be around $8000 or more for international patients.
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Laparoscopic Surgery - This is also known as keyhole surgery and is minimally invasive as it uses small incisions. This provides less pain, has quicker recovery, and leaves smaller scars.
The cost of this surgery can be around ₹11,00,000 to ₹13,00,000, which can be around $14,000 or more depending on the factors we’ll shortly discuss.
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ABO Incompatible Transplants - ABO-incompatible kidney transplants involve recipients and donors with different blood types. It may seem risky, but medical advancements have made it a success. With techniques such as desensitization, successful transplants have been made possible.
However, there are risks of infection. Due to the high risk of rejection and infection, the surgery can cost around $22,000 or more, which is around ₹18,80,000.
Cost of Kidney Transplant in Different Cities
The best kidney transplant hospital in India is usually located in metropolitan cities. The cost of the procedure usually ranges differently across India as listed below:
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Cities
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Cost (INR)
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Cost (USD)
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Delhi
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6,00,000- 13,00,000
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7,020 - 15,200
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Chennai
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6,00,000 - 12,16,000
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7,020 - 15,000
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Ahmedabad
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5,64,700 - 8,47,000
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6,600 - 9,900
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Bangalore
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6,60,000 - 13,28,000
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7,700 - 15,500
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Mumbai
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7,00,000 - 15,00,000
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8,200 - 17,500
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Pune
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6,40,000 - 13,00,000
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7,500 - 15,200
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Hyderabad
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5,00,000 - 12,00,000
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5,800 - 14,000
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Kolkata
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5,50,000 - 12,00,000
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6,500 - 15,000
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Please note that the above kidney transplant cost is an estimate of the procedure. The final cost may vary depending on several factors discussed below.
Yapita Health provides the most affordable kidney transplant in India, with its services available across India. You can request a quote for kidney transplant costs in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and any other city!
Some of the factors affecting the cost of Kidney Transplants in India
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Pre-Transplant Lab Test Costs: Different medical examinations such as chest x-rays, blood tests, echocardiograms, and electrocardiograms, among others. These tests allow the surgeon and their team to assess your overall condition before the surgery and determine your ability to undergo it.
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Surgery/Transplant Cost: The procedure contributes majorly to the cost, with other hospital costs such as pre-transplant tests, the surgical process, and other procedures adding to it.
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Immunosuppressant Injection Costs: Immunosuppressants may be necessary in some cases to prevent organ rejection (for example, in case of ABO incompatible transplants.)
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Doctor’s and Medical Team Fees: Renal transplant surgeons and their medical teams include experts from different departments. Their individual fees, along with the surgeon’s, can add to the overall cost.
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Duration of Stay and Recovery - If your recovery time is more than your stay mentioned in the package, it can increase the overall costs.
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Medications - The medicines that doctors prescribe can cost more than the estimate due to various factors such as availability. Especially the medications in the post-transplant stage end up increasing the cost.
