Overview
In India, stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising treatment for various chronic diseases, including kidney failure. This innovative approach is gaining attention due to its potential to regenerate damaged tissues and improve overall health. In India, the therapy for kidney failure is under clinical trials but has already shown promising results in other chronic conditions. With over 200,000 new cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) diagnosed annually in the country, stem cell therapy offers a hopeful alternative to traditional treatments.
Renowned expert Dr. Pradeep Mahajan emphasizes the potential of stem cell therapy in revolutionizing kidney disease treatment. He states, "Stem cell therapy represents a significant breakthrough in our fight against chronic kidney disease. With ongoing research and clinical trials, we are hopeful for a future where this treatment becomes a standard option for patients." The affordability and promising results of stem cell therapy in India offer new hope for patients suffering from chronic conditions, making advanced medical care more accessible to a broader population.
| Diseases/ Conditions | Treatment Cost |
|---|---|
| Blood Cancer | ₹8,60,000 ($12,000) - ₹20,00,000 ($28,000) |
| Spinal Cord | ₹5,00,000 ($6500) - ₹5,73,000($8000) |
| Kidney failure | ₹3,94,000($5500) - ₹4,87,000($6800) |
| Knee problem | ₹4,75,000 ($6616) - ₹5,90,000($8233) |
| Hair loss | ₹2,15,000 ($3000) - ₹7,17,000 ($10000) |
| Autism | ₹3,22,000 ($4500) - ₹4,66,000 ($6500) |
| Parkinson's Disease | ₹5,18,517 ($6800) - ₹9,91,282 ($13000) |
| Cerebral Palsy | ₹5,71,893 ($7500) - ₹7,62,525 ($10000) |
Disclaimer: Currently, the only stem cell therapies approved by the FDA are used to treat cancers of the blood and bone marrow.
Comparing Stem Cell Therapy Cost in India With Other Countries:
| Condition | India | UK | USA | Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRP (per session) | $140 | $460 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| BMT | $21,013 | $233,310 | $350,000 | $80,000 |
| Knee | $2,152 | $24,082 | $35,120 | $19,065 |
| SPINE CHORD | $6,200 | $8,400 | $28,300 | $45,700 |
Let us tell you why there is such a wide difference in the cost between the countries:
A. Disorders treated with stem cell therapy
1. Stem Cell Therapy Cost for Blood Cancer
Cancer is among one of the major causes of death worldwide. Blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma can be treated with stem cell therapy.
Several factors affect the stem cell transplant cost in India and make it a favorable option for patients around the world to come for cancer treatment by the best oncologist in India.
Generally, treatment of blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma is done using stem cells taken from Bone Marrow. That is the reason it is also known as Bone Marrow Transplant.
Cost based on types of BMT
- Autologous Bone marrow transplant cost ranges from ₹14,34,000 ($20,000) to ₹16,50,000 ($23,000).
- Allogeneic Bone marrow transplant cost ranges from ₹25,10,000($35,000) to ₹30,12,000 ($42,000).
- Haplo-Allogeneic Bone marrow transplant cost ranges from ₹35,16,282 ($49,031) to ₹40,18,649 ($56,036).
2. Stem Cell Therapy Cost for Spine Surgery in India
Surgeons all over the world are treating spinal cord injuries using stem cell treatment by transplanting stem cells directly into the patient’s spinal cord.
These cells mingle with the patient’s existing tissues and develop or reorganize the spinal cord circuitry, which results to improved motor function.
The cost of stem cell therapy in India for the spinal cord varies from ₹5,00,000($6500) - ₹5,73,000($8000).
3. Cost of Stem Cell Therapy for Kidney Failure in India
Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for kidney disease that use stem cells, but researchers are conducting clinical trials to test whether stem cell-based therapies for kidney diseases are safe and effective in humans.
Meanwhile, the cost of kidney transplants in India is very low as compared to other countries and it ranges from ₹3,34,000($5500) - to ₹4,87,000($6800).
4. Cost of Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Problems in India
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/
Stem cell therapy for knees is usually done via the minimally invasive process. This procedure aims at decreasing inflammation, slowing and repairing all the forms of damage from arthritis, and delaying or preventing knee replacement surgery. Since this procedure has yet to get a green signal from FDA, for now only clinical trials are being conducted.
B. Conditions treated with stem cell therapy
1. Stem cell treatment cost for hair loss (PRP) in India
Usually, the cost of stem cell therapy for hair loss treatment in India starts from Rs.7000 per session and might rise to Rs. 20,000 if your hair loss is intense.
The hair loss treatment using stem cells is another sign of relief for individuals suffering from hair loss or baldness. The process requires taking the patient's blood and then separating the platelets from the blood with the help of a centrifuge machine. And then only platelet-rich plasma is extracted.
The PRP is injected into the patient’s scalp area through the micro-needle. This PRP contains proteins essential for the stimulation of natural hair growth.
The injected stem cell finds its way to the follicular region where the inactive or degenerated hair follicles are situated.
The injected stem cells send signals to the neighboring follicles to start the production of the growth factors required for the stimulation of hair growth.
2. Cost of Stem Cell Therapy for Autism in India
Several medical factors like the type of stem cell treatment, type of cells, the number of stem cells required, hospital stay, pre-treatment investigations, etc contribute to the cost of stem cell therapy for Autism.
However, the cost is not regulated in most parts of the world for stem cell therapy. But at the same time, India seems the most feasible option for stem cell therapy owing to its low cost of living, low currency, and competition.
3. Cost of Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy in India
Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a set of neurological conditions that affect movement. The condition makes it hard to move certain parts of the body. There are many degrees of severity.
Symptoms of cerebral Palsy can be observed at an early stage of childhood. Though it is a non-contagious and non-progressive disease there is no defined treatment for cerebral palsy as such.
Doctors and clinics around the world are conducting many trials using stem cells to treat cerebral palsy.
4. Cost of Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson's Disease in India
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. This disease is chronic and gets worse with time and age of a person.
Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.
Stem cell therapy to treat Parkinson's disease offers a ray of hope to people all around the world.
Aside from that, nowadays stem cells are being used to treat diabetes, AVN (avascular necrosis), liver cirrhosis, and erectile dysfunction.
Disclaimer: The rapid progress in biotechnology has introduced numerous pressing ethical issues associated with stem cell research. Particularly in Asian countries, where stem cell therapy is more advanced, the ethical basis for its use is guided by the Declaration of Helsinki (DoH). Developed by the World Medical Association (WMA), the DoH outlines ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects and is considered the cornerstone document on bioethics.
"In the treatment of an individual patient, where proven interventions do not exist or other known interventions have been ineffective, the physician, after seeking expert advice and with informed consent from the patient or a legally authorized representative, may use an unproven intervention if, in the physician's judgment, it offers hope of saving life, re-establishing health, or alleviating suffering. This intervention should subsequently be made the research object, designed to evaluate its safety and efficacy. New information must be recorded and, where appropriate, made publicly available."
