It is crucial to conduct liver transplants in cases of end-stage liver disease, or acute liver failure to save the life of the patient.

India is emerging as a desired choice for liver transplants due to the finest quality of medical facilities and services, skills of surgeons and most important a reasonable price.

Are you looking to opt for liver transplant and wondering what could be the expenses of a liver transplant in India?

This blog by Karetrip provides information on the fees levied for liver transplant surgeries in India and certain money matters that patients undergoing liver transplants should be aware of.

Overview of Liver Transplantation

Liver transplant is a surgical procedure where a failing liver is removed from a patient’s body and replaced with a healthy liver from a donor or obtained from a dead body. There are two main types of liver transplants:There are two main types of liver transplants:

• Living Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT): A portion of the liver is removed from the donor of the organ during his/her lifetime.

• Deceased Donor Liver Transplant (DDLT): The liver is obtained from a cadaver through a process of organ harvesting.\

Both procedures are complicated, and individuals who take them must spend a lot of time preparing the surgery and after the surgery is done.

Cost of Liver Transplantation in India

The total charges of liver transplant in India cost between INR 20,00,000 to INR 30,00,000 (Approximately USD 25000 to USD 37500). This is considerably lower than the cost that is incurred in many of the developed countries, especially within the western world, where charges could reach a figure of half a million US dollars and above.

The cost includes several components: The cost includes several components:

1. Pre-Transplant Evaluation

• Diagnostic Tests: These involve laboratory tests of blood, x rays or any other tests to identify the patient’s ability to undergo a transplant.
• Consultations: Several visits to hepatologists, surgeons and other doctors.

2. Surgery

• Surgeon’s Fees: As mentioned, charges are made for services rendered by the transplant surgeon, as well as, the rest of the surgical team.
• Operation Theater Charges: Wages of employees who are involved in managing the Operation Theater, cost of equipment, and the consumables.

3. Hospitalisation

• Room Charges: The subsequent expenses arising from the period of stay in the hospital, charges on the Intensive Care Unit after the surgery.
• Medications: Such as anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, antibiotics and other.

4. Post-Transplant Care

• Follow-Up Visits: The patient should also be advised to;
• Rehabilitation: Physical therapy and other related services of rehabilitation.

Factors Affecting the Cost

Several factors can influence the overall cost of a liver transplant in India:Several factors can influence the overall cost of a liver transplant in India:

Hospital and Location

• Hospital: This may mean that premium hospitals with better facilities may have higher fees as compared to other hospitals.
• City: It also stated that costs differ with cities and may be slightly higher in the bigger cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

Type of Transplant

• Living Donor vs. Deceased Donor: LDLT might be cheaper differently because of the fact that donor surgery is logistically more complicated.

Patient’s Condition

• Severity of Illness: While others could be dire which may need longer stays in the hospital and more extensive management.
• Complications: Post procedural factors are also regarded as cost influencers because any complication that arises after an operation will attract additional costs.

Donor Matching and Procurement

• Donor Tests and Matching: Expenses that may include screening of donors and matching them with the recipients.
• Organ Procurement: Concerning the costs incurred while getting the organ from a donor particularly in DDLT.

Medications

• Immunosuppressive Drugs: Although these drugs are must before any organ is rejected, these are expensive and to be taken for a lifetime.

Additional Considerations

Insurance

• Coverage: There are even insurance plans that offer the liver transplant service. Thus, it can be recommended to check the scope of insurance and responsibilities for payment of additional monies.

Accommodation and Travel

• Stay: Because of that, the patients and their families may have to reside in the hospital vicinity for weeks or even months.
• Travel: Expenses related to transportation in terms of accessing hospital to assess transplantation’s suitability and surviving afterward.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Consent: Before an organ is harvested it has to be ascertained that both a donor and a recipient provided their voluntary consent.
• Regulations: Experts and willingness of patients to undergo organ transplantation according to national and international standards.

Best Hospitals for Liver Transplantation in India

Some of the leading hospitals known for liver transplants in India include: Some of the leading hospitals known for liver transplants in India include:

• Apollo Hospitals: Depot facilities for the business are available at Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
• Medanta - The Medicity: Gurgaon or Gurgaon.
• Fortis Healthcare: Several that include Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
• Max Super Specialty Hospital: Remembered, Delhi.
• Global Hospitals: These two cities are among some of the best cities to live in across the entire world, the two cities are Chennai and Mumbai.

Success Rates and Outcomes

It is noteworthy that India has fairly high chances of success: liver transplantation rate is among the best in the world. Approximately beside the neoplastic illness, the one-year survival rate is between 85-90% and the five-year survival rate is between 70-75%.

Despite the fact that such operations are relatively risky, success rates depend on the general health of the patient, type of liver diseases, and quality of post-operative care.

Process to Follow to Undergo for a Liver Transplant in India

• Initial Consultation: The patient should also get a hepatologist or transplant surgeon to decide whether they would require a liver transplant.

• Evaluation: Basic exercise and other tests to determine the health status of the person making them suitable for the transplant.

• Listing: Where applicable the patient is placed on the waiting list for a deceased donor liver or a live donor is sourced.

• Preparation: Some of the preparations that are usually made before the operation include medical optimization and matching among others.

• Surgery: The transplant procedure.

• Recovery: General ICU management, and subsequently, an auction on a general surgical ward.

• Follow-Up: Include follow up examinations with the clients and their constant supervision.

Liver transplantation in India is feasible, especially because its health facilities are first-rate yet cheap to cater for the poor.

Knowing the components of cost, the aspects influencing the increase or decrease in the cost, and other considerations can assist the patients and their families.

Experienced healthcare providers must be consulted, and the hospitals must be properly recommended when it comes to undergoing any medical procedure.