Bone Marrow Transplant Cost in AIIMS: A Complete Guide

A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure. Doctors inject healthy stem cells from a donor into the patient's bloodstream.
These stem cells replace damaged or diseased cells by travelling to the bone marrow.
It treats certain cancers, blood disorders, and immune system problems, such as:

1. Leukaemia

2. Multiple myeloma

3. Bone marrow failure syndrome

4. Aplastic anaemia

5. Lymphoma

6. Solid tumours

A bone marrow transplant is an expensive procedure. The cost of the treatment varies differently.
At AIIMS, it can be done in the range of ₹ 2,00,000 to ₹ 10,00,000. There can be variations in this price depending on the patient's health condition and other factors. 

The final cost includes pre-transplant evaluations, transplant procedure expenses, hospital stay, post-transplant care, and medication costs.
Financial assistance and government schemes may be available to eligible patients to help manage their costs.

The cost of a bone marrow transplant changes depending on several factors. Let's explore the key elements that influence the overall cost at AIIMS.

1. Medical Condition: The type of medical condition affecting the bone marrow significantly determines the treatment cost. The specialised team at AIIMS firmly believes that each condition requires a different approach and personalised treatment plan.
   For instance, treating aplastic anaemia differs from addressing bone marrow damage due to chemotherapy.

2. Type of Transplantation: At AIIMS, the cost of autologous stem cell transplantation (using the patient's cells) is generally lower than allogeneic transplantation (using donor cells).
   Moreover, an allogeneic transplant from a related donor is less expensive than an allogeneic transplant from an unrelated donor.
   The latter involves additional expenses for searching potential donors through the Bone Marrow Registry.

3. Pre-procedure Tests: Bone marrow transplantation necessitates extensive pre-procedure tests, including HLA-typing tests for siblings in allogeneic transplantation cases. 

   Tests Conducted Before Bone Marrow Transplantation at AIIMS include:

1. Pulmonary function tests

2. HLA typing (for allogeneic cases)

3. 24-hour urine examination

4. Chest X-ray

5. Sinus X-ray

6. Echocardiogram

7. Psychiatric evaluation

8. Cardiac evaluation

9. PET, CT, and MRI scans

10. Blood work-up

11. Infectious disease profiling

    These tests and patient and donor evaluations contribute to the overall cost. However, autologous transplantation involves the assessment of the patient only.

4. Chemotherapy: In some instances, such as leukaemia, patients receive chemotherapy cycles before bone marrow transplantation.
   The cost of the chemotherapy regimen adds to the total treatment expenses.

5. Patient Age: The patient's age influences the overall cost, with paediatric patients and individuals under 20 incurring higher expenses.
   Younger patients require additional care, tests, and extended hospital stay.

6. Monitoring Requirements: The duration of hospitalisation at AIIMS affects the cost, especially for paediatric patients who may require comprehensive monitoring.
   Factors like graft-versus-host disease monitoring, ventilator support, intensive care, and the presence of infections contribute to additional hospitalisation costs.

The total cost depends upon the choice of city and the team of experts. However, the cost breakup of the transplant can be done in the following way: 

Bone marrow transplants are not just life-saving procedures but also expensive treatments. There is financial aid available from both private as well as government institutions.
Some of the schemes for bone marrow transplants that are accepted in AIIMS are: 

1. Ayushman Bharat Scheme: It is a scheme provided by the Government of India. It is beneficial to the transplant patient in the following ways: 

1. It financially assists poor and vulnerable families seeking bone marrow transplants at AIIMS.

2. This scheme also provides patients with the advantage of getting free treatment.

2. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi: The country has implemented the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme to offer financial aid to patients suffering from life-threatening diseases.
   Diseases such as bone marrow disorders are covered for people below the poverty line.

1. This assistance enables them to receive medical treatment at super speciality hospitals, institutes, or government hospitals.

2. The scheme provides a one-time grant to the Medical Superintendent of the treating hospital, ensuring the funds reach deserving patients.

3. RAN has established revolving funds in 13 central government hospitals and institutions across India to facilitate this support, including AIIMS in Delhi.

4. These funds offer medical assistance of up to ₹ 2,00,000.

3. Snehasparsh Scheme: The Government of Assam, through the Department of Health and Family Welfare, has introduced the "Snehasparsha" scheme.
   This initiative aims to offer financial assistance for specialised treatment to children under 14 who face serious ailments.
   The following guidelines outline the implementation of the scheme:

1. Children below 14 years of age, with an overall annual income of less than Rs 5 lakhs, are eligible for the scheme's benefits.
   In exceptional cases, the income limits may be relaxed after careful consideration at the highest level.

2. Medical College Hospitals and other hospitals within the state will provide treatment for specific procedures covered by the Snehasparsha scheme.
   However, some diseases like bone marrow transplants may require referral to suitable healthcare institutions outside the state to AIIMS, Delhi.

4. Government Sponsorship: The government may sponsor the cost, particularly for BPL cardholders. The actual cost significantly reduces if the state government sponsors the transplant. 

   AIIMS charges minimal bed and convenience fees, providing many costly drugs, IV access systems, and equipment for free. Here are the approximate costs: 

1. Autologous stem cell transplant: Around ₹ 3,00,000

2. Matched sibling donor allogeneic stem cell transplant: Around ₹ 5,00,000

3. Haploidentical allogeneic stem cell transplantation or cord blood stem cell transplant cost: Approximately ₹10,00,000 to 15,00,000 over six months.

One can easily associate with private health insurance schemes in India. Some of the best insurance schemes for bone marrow transplants in India are: 

1. Max Bupa Health Insurance 

2. HDFC ERGO Health Insurance 

3. ICICI Lombard Health Insurance

Medical Loans

There is also the provision for medical loans that allow patients to make payments in an easy EMI system. These loans are available at low-interest rates in all the leading banks of the country.

The patient is not liable to make any cash payments to the bank in cashless claims—specific schemes like CGHS. ECHS manage the entire expenditure. 

In reimbursement claims, the person may have to pay the treatment costs at the hospital. However, these costs are reimbursed to them within a specific period.

AIIMS accepts both cashless and reimbursement claims. Those patients who are CGHS beneficiaries are eligible to get free treatment in AIIMS for procedures, including bone marrow transplants.

Patient survival is high after a bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow transplant cost in AIIMS gives an informed decision about having treatment at a reasonable price.

HexaHealth is a medical platform that can help you with treatment related to bone marrow without hassle. As a team of dedicated professionals, our objective is to allow making the right decisions about problems and diseases.

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