Kidney Transplant in India: Cost, Hospital, Success Rate & Donor Details

Cost of Kidney Transplant in India

The cost of a kidney transplant in India ranges from USD $13,000 to $24,000.

If the donor's blood group is compatible with the patient's, the cost of treatment is $13,000. However, if the donor and patient blood types do not match, the cost increases to $24,000 because of the extra tests required.

Read more in the Procedure section.

In India, kidney transplant is legal only if the international patient gets their own donors from their families.

Read Kidney Transplant Abroad  to know the complete process for renal transplant in India and other countries

The cost of kidney transplant in the US is over USD $400,000^[1]

 

Cost Comparison-India and US in USD

Treatment	Cost in India	Cost in the US
Kidney Transplant	$13000 - $24000	$442,500

*Cost can be subject to cases

According to Statista, over USD $150,000 goes into just surgery and hospitalization in the US.^[2]

Procuring Kidneys from a donor registry is also an added cost.

Patients who have a relative acting as a donor may not incur this cost.

Here is a snapshot of the cost breakup:

Cost Breakdown for Kidney Transplant in the US

Parts of treatment	Cost in USD
Hospital transplant surgery	$152,300
Procurement	$113,900
Post-transplant follow-up tests	$85,500
Pre-transplant tests	$32,700
Medication	$31,900
Physician	$26,200
Total	$442,500

Package Cost and Timelines

Find out what is included and excluded in our package, ranging from USD $13000 to $24000.

Package Deal for Kidney Transplant

Person	Number of Days	Includes	Excludes
Patient	8	10 dialysis sessions All blood tests and gene tests. All meals as per the treatment plan Medication as per the treatment plan Consultation from the primary team Stay for patient & donor as per treatment plan	Extra consultation Extra stay for patient & donor Specialized meals apart from the treatment plan Other medications Stay for initial test days and follow-up days
Donor	3

Timeline for Renal Transplant in India

It takes 6-8 weeks for international patients to get a new kidney through a transplant.

Here is the treatment timeline with cost inclusions and exclusions.

Timeline

Phase	Treatment	Patient Duration	Donor Duration	Cost included or excluded
Total Stay	End-to-End	8 Weeks	6 Weeks
Initial Part	Pre-work up documentation Blood tests, kidney matching, and gene tests Cardiac check-ups and nephrology tests	3- 4 Weeks	3-4 Weeks	Excluded
Main treatment	Main Treatment prep Surgery Recovery	8 Days	3 Days	Included
Last Part	Follow up on kidney acceptance Recovery from infections & side-effects	4 Weeks	2 Weeks	Excluded

*Duration is subject to change depending on the patient or donor health

Here is how foreigners can get into a kidney transplant program in India. 

Procedure for International Patients to get Kidney Transplant in India

Once the international patient connects with our medical advisors, they are asked to share all the initial medical reports. Many times with renal failure comes several other complications, such as heart disease or anaemia.^[4]

This is why our advisors require all records of the patient, to find them the best hospital in India for a kidney transplant.

Patients are connected to the hospital, where doctors assess the donor's eligibility.

Who can be a donor?

For foreigners in India, only 1st-degree relatives can be kidney donors. 2nd-degree relatives cannot donate their kidneys to overseas patients.

Here is the relationship degree chart for the type of donors: 

Relationship and Donor Chart

Donor Type in Relation	Relatives
1st Degree Relative	Parent Sibling Child
2nd Degree Relative	Nephew/Niece Aunt/Uncle Grandparents Half-sibling
3rd Degree Relative	1st Cousin Great-grandparent Great-uncle/aunt
4th Degree Relative	Cousins Other relatives

 

Know more about the law in India.

Wondering what the legal process for kidney transplants in Turkey is? Check out our complete guide Kidney Transplant in Turkey. 

Before Procedure: Tests to Identify Donor Compatibility

There are multiple tests required to prepare for a kidney transplant.

Here are the tests which determine whether the donor is compatible or not.

Main Procedure: How Is the Surgery Performed?

Kidney transplant surgery can be done in different ways:

1. Open Surgery:  The traditional method of surgery in which an incision is made to fully reveal the organs involved.
2. Laparoscopic Surgery:  The surgeon makes small incisions and inserts a laparoscope (camera) and special instruments to perform the surgery.
3. Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopy: The surgeon performs laparoscopic surgery on the patient remotely assisted by a robot.

90% of kidney transplant operations are done through Laparoscopic surgery. In younger & healthier patients, doctors often utilize robotic-assisted laparoscopy.

The Transplant Team

Kidney Transplantation requires a multidisciplinary approach with a number of specialists involved.

The treatment requires:

• Transplant Surgeon: Performs the surgery.
• Nephrologist: Specializes in kidney transplant and manages the entire process.
• Cardiologist: Monitors the heart before, during, and after the surgery.
• Anesthesiologist:  Administers anesthesia and observes the patient’s level of sedation and vital signs throughout the surgery.
• Support staff.

The treatment involves other specialists if needed.

After Procedure: Follow-up and Diet

The patient requires close follow-up after surgery due to taking strong immunosuppressants, which weaken the immune system.

It is vital for the patient to rest, take prescribed medications, and maintain a nutritious diet for recovery.

What should the patient eat post-Kidney transplant surgery?

For those with weakened immune systems, a low-sodium, vitamin-rich, high-fiber, and lean protein diet is crucial.^[7]

Patients should minimize sugar, salt intake, and fatty foods in order to maintain ideal weight and prevent cardiac or blood pressure issues.

Success Story of International Patient

Watch Earl Sorrells, an MTC patient from the US who came to India for a kidney transplant, tell his story when all hope was lost in his home country.

Thanks to the smooth facilitation by the advisors and the treatment plan designed by the doctors in India, Mr Sorrells' surgery was completed ahead of schedule. He left the country happy and healthy.

What Is the Success Rate of Kidney Transplant in India

Success Rate of kidney transplant in India is 98.7%.^[8] In a study from the Southern part of India, published in the Journal of Association of Physicians in India, it was seen that patient survival was 98.7% at 3 years.

Best Hospitals for Kidney Transplant Program in India

Best Hospital in New Delhi

Best Surgeon for Kidney Transplant in India

Overview: Kidney Failure and the Need for Transplant

Kidneys filter waste and help to regulate blood pressure in the human body. They also help to produce vitamin D and a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Diseases like diabetes, obesity, or heart conditions can lead to kidney failure. When kidneys fail, they cannot properly remove waste, leading to serious health issues or even death.

Treating Kidney Failure: Dialysis and Transplant

When kidney function declines to about 80-90%, symptoms like swelling of the feet and ankles, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fatigue emerge, signaling the need for immediate treatment.^[9]

Dialysis, which mimics kidney function, is the initial treatment doctors recommend and can sustain patients for a long time.

Kidney transplant is ultimately the treatment of choice for chronic renal failure rather than a lifetime on dialysis. Kidney transplants help those with renal failure feel better and live longer.

A 2021 study by NCBI found that dialysis in the US costs over USD$98,000 per person.^[10] Considering the expense, discomfort and potential complications of long-term dialysis, doctors often recommend kidney transplant as the ideal treatment for kidney failure.
.

Type of Kidney Transplant Donors

Kidneys can come from 2 types of donors:

Deceased donor:  A deceased donor is a person who has suffered brain death or cardiac arrest and is being maintained on life-support until their organ(s) are removed for donation.

Living donor:  A living donor is a generally healthy person who consents to donating an organ. This is usually a relative.

What Are Risks Associated With Kidney Transplant

Be aware of the risks associated with Kidney Transplant:

• Infections: To prevent kidney rejection, recipients take immunosuppressants that weaken the body and increase the risk of infections.^[11]
• Acute allograft dysfunction: Often due to blood clots, urinary leak, or obstruction of urine.
• Cardiac issues:  Risk of heart attack due to blockage of blood flow to the heart tissue.
• Delayed graft function: A new kidney may take time to function properly, especially from deceased donors.

Is Kidney Transplant in India Safe?

Yes, Kidney Transplants can be safe in India, as per studies, with proper preparation, recipient screening before surgery, and multi-disciplinary inputs.^[12]

Conclusion

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