Low Cost Bone Marrow Transplant in India

Last Modified: September 22, 2023 | Created on: July 3, 2018
Blood Cancer, Blood Disorder, Transplants

“Bone marrow transplant cost in India starts from USD 15,000 (INR 10,86,000) for autologous bone marrow transplant and USD 22,000 (INR 15,60,000) for allogeneic bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow transplant hospitals in India promise unparalleled health treatments at low-cost packages.

The following table indicates details about Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in India:

Type of Transplant	Autologous BMT	Allogenic BMT
		Full Match (HLA testing >80%)	Half Match (HLA testing <80%)
Cost	USD 15,000	USD 22,000	USD 40,000
Donor	Not Required	Required
Chemotherapy	Required	Required
Stay in Hospital	25 – 35 Days	1 Month
Stay in Country	2 Months	2 Months
Accommodation Cost	Starting 20 USD/Day	Starting 20 USD/Day

Pre-transplant tests for BMT in India

Type of diagnostic Test	List of tests	Type of transplant	Patient	Donor
Blood tests	HLA-Crossmatch and Typing Infectious disease screening for HIV, Hepatitis, etc. Organ function tests, including CBC, ABO blood typing, etc.	Allogeneic BMT Autologous/Allogeneic BMT Autologous/Allogeneic BMT	Yes Yes Yes	Yes Yes Yes
Heart function tests	Electrocardiogram Echocardiogram	Autologous/Allogeneic BMT	Yes	Yes
Pulmonary function tests	Spirometry test Lung volume tests Lung diffusion capacity Pulse oximetry	Autologous/Allogeneic BMT	Yes	Yes
Other tests	PET Scan CT Scan	Autologous/Allogeneic BMT	Yes	Yes
Bone marrow tests	Bone marrow biopsy	Autologous/Allogeneic BMT	Yes	Yes

What are the factors that affect Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in India?

Bone marrow transplant cost in India starts at as low as $15,000 (INR 10,86,000) for treatment of conditions like Myeloma, but this price varies for other medical conditions. The overall Bone marrow transplant cost in India also depends on the following factors:

Availability of Donor
The severity of the patient’s condition
Type of transplant required
Location, type, and clinical infrastructure of the hospital
Duration of hospital stay
The expertise and fee of the surgeon
Diagnostic and other laboratory tests

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What is a Bone marrow transplant?

Bone marrow is a soft tissue present inside the bones consisting of stem cells that produce WBCs, RBCs, and platelets. Under certain conditions like cancer, these stem cells lose their ability to produce normal and healthy blood cells.

A bone marrow transplant replaces the diseased or non-functional bone marrow with healthy stem cells. These stem cells can be derived from the patient’s body or a full-match or half-match donor. In a few cases, these stem cells can also come from the cord blood cells preserved at the time of the patient’s birth.

Types of Bone Marrow Transplants in India

Autologous Transplant:

Autologous bone marrow transplants the healthy stem cells derived from the patient back into their body. The stem cells are collected through apheresis, purified, and stored for future use. Meanwhile, the patient begins with their chemo or radiation therapy treatment. These therapies destroy the non-functional and sometimes a part of the functional bone marrow as well. Once the therapy is completed, the stem cells are transplanted back into the patient’s body through an intravenous catheter.

Allogenic Transplant:

This type of bone marrow transplant involves extracting the donor’s bone marrow, also called peripheral stem cells. This bone marrow is matched genetically and may or may not relate to you. Doctors may follow syngeneic bone marrow transplant that includes receiving peripheral stem cells and bone marrow of identical twins.

Bone marrow transplant Donor in India

An individual is eligible to become a BMT donor if they are histocompatible with the patient. This means that their genetic makeup closely resembles that of the patient. Generally, a matching donor is from the immediate family, a child, a sister or brother, or a parent.

However, a patient can also get the best match through an unrelated donor. A cent-percent match is not necessary, but a close match for a positive outcome is indispensable.

The ideal BMT donor should:

Be between 18 and 44 years of age
Not have a BMI more than 35 and less than 18
Not suffer from any mental illness
Not suffer from any neurological disease
Not suffer from chronic heart or lung conditions
Not suffer from diabetes
Not suffer from any blood disorder
Not suffer from infections such as HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, etc.
Not be pregnant

Becoming a BMT Donor in India

If an individual decides to donate their bone marrow or stem cells (Both for a related or unrelated patient/recipient), they will have to undergo a comprehensive evaluation with a doctor to check their eligibility.
The donor will be informed about the risks and complications associated with the procedure and inquired about their medical history. This will include a series of tests to screen possible genetic or infectious diseases.
If the doctor deems the donor to be eligible for donation, they will undergo an HLA typing test to check the histocompatibility with the patient.
There are two ways through which stem cells can be extracted from the donor’s body. These include:

Type of Donation	Bone Marrow Donation	Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation
What does it involve?	The donor will undergo a surgery that will require an overnight hospital stay. The surgeon will insert a needle in the posterior region of the pelvic bone and aspirate a portion of the marrow. The surgery will be performed under anesthesia.	This type of donation is done as an outpatient procedure. The donor will be administered injections starting a few days before the procedure to promote stem cell number in the blood. On the day of the procedure, a catheter will draw blood out of the patient’s vein (usually arm), circulate it in a machine, and send it back into the patient’s body. The machine filters out stem cells from the blood and this process is called as apheresis.
Time taken for the donation	1 to 2 Hours	2 Hours (May require more sittings, depending on the number of stem cells required by the patient.)
Recovery	3 to 4 Weeks	7 to 14 Days
Risks or Complications	Soreness in the treated area and difficulty in walking for a few days.	Bone pain, Muscle ache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, and infection (in rare instances).

Finding a BMT Donor in India

Finding a BMT donor in India can be quite challenging. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) doesn’t include a registry for this specific category. There are a few independent organizations like MDRI and Daitri that provide these services and information.

Patients can register their details and find the best possible match. On the other hand, if anyone wishes to list themselves as a donor, they too can register and share necessary details for future reference.

What does a BMT procedure in India involve?

Before the procedure

The procedure to undergo BMT in India begins with a thorough physical evaluation, including routine blood tests and functional analysis of the heart, lungs, and liver. These tests help the doctor to decide the patient’s eligibility for the procedure.
If the patient is fit for a bone marrow transplant, the doctor will discuss the possible options they have. This will also include finding a suitable donor if the patient can’t undergo an autologous transplant.
A few days before the surgery, the patient will be required to visit the hospital to get an intravenous catheter implanted into a vein in the neck or the chest. This catheter will stay put during the treatment to infuse transplanted stem cells and medication into the patient’s body.

During the procedure

1. Collection of stem cells

The process of BMT begins with the first and most essential step – The collection of stem cells. Stem cells can come from two sources; the patient’s own body or stem cells obtained from a suitable donor. The collection of stem cells takes place in the following ways.

Autologous transplant

The patient will receive a daily dose of injections that will stimulate stem cell production at a faster and higher rate. These injections contain growth factors that supplement stem cell formation and differentiation.
After a few days, the patient will visit the hospital for a process known as ‘apheresis.’
Apheresis is a technique to draw blood from the patient’s body, circulate it in a specialized machine, separate stem cells from the blood, and finally, direct the blood back to the patient.
The collected stem cells are purified and frozen for further use.

Allogeneic transplant

The stem cells from an allogeneic source can be collected in two different ways – through apheresis or surgery.
The doctor will suggest the option that works best for the donor as well as the patient.
If the doctor advises apheresis, the donor will undergo a similar procedure listed above. But, if the doctor deems surgery to be a more suitable choice, the donor will have to undergo one.

2. Conditioning

The next step requires a patient to go through a process called conditioning to prepare their body for transplant.
During conditioning, they will undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A person may undergo chemotherapy, radiation, or have a combination of both these treatments during their conditioning. This plays a vital role in:

Destroying cancer or diseased cells in the body as a treatment modality for the underlying condition.
Suppressing the immune system (to allow it to accept the transplant cells)
Preparing the bone marrow for the new stem cells

The type and amount of conditioning the patient receives depends on several factors, including the target disease, their overall health, and the type of bone marrow transplant.

3. Reduced-intensity conditioning

The top bone marrow transplant hospitals in India offer this kind of conditioning for some patients.
The reduced-intensity conditioning process involves the use of lower doses or different types of chemotherapy or radiation during the treatment.
The doctor will recommend reduced-intensity conditioning based on the patient’s age and overall health status.
This conditioning will destroy some diseased cells and suppress the immune system to prevent chances of rejection.

4. Bone marrow transplant

The transplant infusion itself is a painless process, and the recipient remains awake during the procedure. It takes a few hours to complete the procedure.
For the transplant, a central line is used to transfer the collected stem cells into the recipient’s body.
Stem cells that were frozen have to be thawed before the transplant. They contain a preservative that may cause certain side effects in the patient. The doctor will administer certain medicines in such cases to help prevent any complications. Sometimes, extra fluids are also given to flush the preservatives out of the body.
A central venous catheter, or port, is installed on the upper portion of the patient’s chest. The fluid containing new stem cells flows directly into the heart through the catheter and gets dispersed throughout the body.
As the stem cells reach the bone marrow, they become established and grow to increase their number.
The blood cell count will return to normal within a few weeks. The patient will have regular blood count tests, meanwhile, to monitor the progress.

After the procedure

As the new stem cells are transplanted into the patient’s body, they will gradually reach the bone marrow via blood. With time, these stem cells differentiate and start producing different types of blood cells. This process is called engraftment and can take anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks.
During this period, the patient will remain susceptible to multiple risks and complications, including:

Infections
Mucositis or Mouth sores
Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver (VOD)
Interstitial Pneumonia Syndrome (IPS)
Graft-versus-Host Disease
Graft Failure
Cataracts
Infertility
New cancers

How can Lyfboat assist you getting Bone Marrow Transplantation in India?

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Lyfboat is a free advisory platform; we do not charge any fees from patients. In fact, we negotiate the price that Indian hospitals offer. In some cases we are able to reduce the cost by negotiating upto 20% of what Hospitals generally offer. We advise the best treatment from the top hospital/surgeon at best price.

Graft-Vs-Host Disease (GVHD) in bone marrow transplant

This condition is a potential risk that may occur anytime after the transplant, especially in allogeneic bone marrow transplants.
GVHD occurs when the new donor stem cells that grow and rebuild the patient’s new immune system identify the body’s tissues and organs as foreign agents and start to attack them.
The risk of GVHD is more when the stem cells are obtained from an unrelated donor, but it may happen to anyone who receives stem cells from a donor.

GVHD can be classified into two categories:

Acute GVHD: This usually occurs during the first few months after the transplant. It typically affects the skin, liver or digestive tract, and gut. This may cause symptoms, such as skin rashes, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or an increase in liver enzymes.
Chronic GVHD: This usually develops sometime later and may affect several organs. The signs and symptoms that indicate chronic GVHD include:

Pain in the joint or muscle
Breathlessness
A persistent cough
Changes in the vision, such as dry eyes
Scarring or stiffness on the skin
Yellow pigmentation on the skin or whites of eyes – jaundice
Dry mouth or Mouth sores
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting

As a solution to GVHD, the doctor will prescribe certain immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids to provide relief from the symptoms.
The choice and length of treatment depend on the type of condition – acute or chronic. Patients with GVHD may undergo treatment for almost a year or more, depending on their response to therapy.

Life after bone marrow transplant in India

A bone marrow transplant can help cure a variety of conditions or push them into remission. In both cases, the patient can expect improvement in the quality of life and high life expectancy rates.

However, the results of a bone marrow transplant can be different for each patient. This usually depends on the type of disease and the age & general health of the patient.

Recovery

The patient will stay under close observation and care for at least one week in the hospital. The duration of hospital stay will depend on the severity of the patient’s condition and general health.
Once the patient’s health is stabilized, the doctor will allow the patient to leave the hospital under the care of a medical attendant. The patient, in this case, should have a stable RBC and platelet count and should not be suffering from any fever.
The doctor will advise the patient to find temporary accommodation near the hospital for a few weeks to months after the transplant. This helps them to have better control over the anticipated risks and complications associated with BMT.
The patient will also need periodic RBC and platelet transfusions until the newly transplanted bone marrow starts producing sufficient levels of such cells on its own.
The recovery period will also require the patient to attend regular follow-ups with the doctor that can last for a few weeks, months, to even years.

Aftercare

The aftercare routine aims to control the side effects of not only the transplant but also the chemo/radiation therapy.
The most essential step in the aftercare of BMT is compliance with the post-procedure instructions as well as regular intake of prescribed medicines. These medications help to control the side effects of the treatments and reduce the chance of immune rejection.
Apart from this, the patient will also be expected to make certain changes in their diet and overall lifestyle. These often include:

Observe food safety procedures to prevent foodborne infections.
Follow a healthy, balanced, and all-inclusive diet composed of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, poultry, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, etc.
Limit the intake of dietary salt.
Avoid smoking or alcohol.
Avoid going to crowded places to minimize chances of infection
Follow an active lifestyle that promotes weight control, strengthened bones, increased endurance, and healthy muscles.
Wear sunscreen whenever stepping outside.
Get regular screenings for cancer.

Written By Simran Bahia

Simran Bahia is an experienced content writer with extensive research experience in Immunology and Reproductive Biology. Simran received her Bachelors in Life Sciences from Delhi University, followed by a Master's in Immunology from the Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology. Combining her love for science and writing, Simran enjoys putting a spin on standard methods of medical writing.

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Best Bone Marrow Transplant Hospitals in India

India hosts over 200 top-notch bone marrow transplant hospitals across the major cities such as New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Kochi. These hospitals have the best trained and experienced surgeons and nurses who are dedicated to providing personalized care and specialized services to bone marrow transplant patients.

The donor is required to stay a night at the hospitals to complete the bone marrow transplant procedure. Once the stems are collected, they are sent to the laboratory for harvesting. Then, blood transfusion is performed on the body of the recipient with the help of an injection.

Remember, every cancer hospital and super-specialty unit evaluates the health condition of the patient and whether he or she is capable of tolerating certain medications before the transplant procedure and after it. If everything is fine, the patient is given a go-ahead to undergo the transplant procedure.

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Fortis Memorial Research Institute Fortis Memorial Research Institute
Gurgaon, India

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Medanta The Medicity Medanta The Medicity
Gurgaon, India

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Artemis Hospital Artemis Hospital
Gurgaon, India

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Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
New Delhi, India

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Max Super Specialty Hospital Saket Max Super Specialty Hospital Saket
New Delhi, India

Best Bone Marrow Transplant Surgeons in India

The country boasts of stringent infection control regulations, experienced surgeons, multi-facilitated hospitals and advanced treatment facilities.

List of some famous bone marrow transplant doctors in India:

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Dr. Rahul Bhargava Dr. Rahul Bhargava
New Delhi, India

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Dr. Satya Prakash Yadav Dr. Satya Prakash Yadav
Gurgaon, India

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Dr. Gaurav Kharya Dr. Gaurav Kharya
Gurgaon, India

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Dr. Vikas Dua Dr. Vikas Dua
Gurgaon, India

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Dr. Rahul Naithani
New Delhi, India

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