Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India: Cost, Procedure & Success Rate
Explore best options for bone marrow transplant for Leukemia in India.
Know everything about cost, procedure, donors & success rate in this comprehensive guide.
Choose affordable and accessible treatment to battle Leukemia through top-quality oncology care.
Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India
Cost of Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India is approximately USD $22,000 - $35,000 (INR 18,00,000 -INR 29,00,000). Cost of Bone Marrow transplant depends on the type of Transplant.
Studies have shown that donor-led Allogeneic transplants are more expensive than patient-led Autologous transplants due to external donor fee and longer treatment time.[1]
Cost Comparison for Bone Marrow Transplant in India and US (in USD)
Here is a clear cost distinction based on the type of bone marrow transplant.
As per latest research studies published in American Society of Haematology, in 2024, the entirety of bone marrow transplant or blood transplant treatment costs over $330,000 USD.
This includes admission, readmission, treatment, ER/OP, pharmacy & medication, conditioning period amongst others.[2]
The cost table below also shows the affordable treatment cost in India as compared to the US.
| Cost in USD (rounded cost) | ||
| Transplant Type | Cost in India | Cost in US |
| Autologous transplant | $22,000 | $140,000[3] |
| Allogeneic transplant | $28,000 | $330,000[4] |
| Haplo Allogeneic transplant or half-matched transplant | $35,000 | $360,000[5] |
*Prices are subject to change
Why is Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia expensive?
Research published in Journal of Blood Medicine, says that Patients with Leukemia spend 70% of treatment expenses for ‘inpatient hospitalisation’.[6]
Other imperative cost drivers for Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia are:
- Getting a donor: If the patient does not match well with a relative, patient might need to get a donor from global registry, which can be very expensive.
- Preparation: Before transplant, patients require medication and chemotherapy to kill the abnormalWBC. Chemotherapy can be an added cost for the patient.
- Transplant Procedure: This requires specialised equipment and medical care. If there is a relapse or the cancer progresses, extra consultations and treatment could shoot up cost.
- Aftercare: Patients need medicines to prevent rejection and follow-up visits to make sure the transplant is effective.
How can International Patients get Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India?
With highly affordable prices, haematological experts and advanced technology, India is leading to become one of the most reliable Bone Marrow Transplant destinations for leukemia patients.
Find out how International Patients can get treated for Leukemia with Bone Marrow Transplant in India.
First Touch-Point With Medical Tourism Advisors
Our Medical Tourism Advisors connect with International patients and help them find the right fit for a Bone Marrow Transplant Program. First, patients share initial reports with our advisors. The reports include:
- Initial scans and results
- Existing lab reports
- Medical files
- High-resolution HLA reports
Patients are required to share only HLA results which show the exact HLA count. Low resolution images will not give the doctors accurate results.
If you do not have existing medical reports, there is nothing to worry! Our team will help you.
All you need to do is fill out the form on screen and let us guide you.
Why is HLA important for Bone Marrow Transplant?
Human Leukocyte Antigen is a type of protein in our bodies. To get a bone marrow transplant, patient's HLA count needs to match with the donor HLA perfectly.
If stem cells from an unmatched HLA enter the patient's body, the immune system treats it as a foreign entity and fights it. If the HLA matches perfectly, the patient body will accept the healthy bone marrow and, more likely, recover.
Identifying the Right Donor Is the Key!
After we find the patient a right fit with a hospital, the doctors examine initial reports and plan for a bone marrow transplant. Here the type of donor is decided.
| Donor Type | Who it can be | Matching level |
| Allogeneic | Sibling | Complete match |
| Haplo- Allogeneic | Parent, Child, Relative | Partial match (50%) |
| ‘Matched Unrelated Donor’ | Non-related, from the Donor Registry | Complete Match |
- Often, a sibling is an adequate HLA match to do an allogeneic transplant.
- If there are no siblings, doctors recommend a Haplo-allogeneic transplant. A haplo donor can be a patient's parent, child, or a very close relative. This is mostly a 50% match with a higher rejection risk.
- To combat this, patients can try the ‘matched unrelated donor’, using the global donor registry. This process is most expensive but gives patients a greater chance of finding a good match.
Are there other donor options if HLA does not match with relatives?
Doctors can recommend Umbilical cord cells if the patient does not get a match from a relative. Our partner hospitals in India keep a donor registry where umbilical donor blood stem cells are stored.
Umbilical cord contains immature stem cells (stem cells) which can be used to get healthy cells.[7]
Once the donor is identified, a bone marrow transplant is scheduled along with the patient’s India visit.
Travel to India for Bone Marrow Transplant
During the entirety of the patient's treatment, the doctor plans the exact travel time to India for the patient.
So what is this exact timing?
Before a bone marrow transplant the patient requires 2-3 sessions of chemotherapy to kill the abnormal stem cells.
Once the unhealthy cells die, healthy cells need to be inserted in the patient body through the bone marrow transplant within 4-5 days after the last chemotherapy session.
The doctor keeps this timeline in mind and schedules patient travel to India.
Once the travel timeline is set, our medical advisors ensure all travel related documents are processed seamlessly. Patients are connected with a specific point of contact who handles the overall journey. Once in India, the doctor prepares for the treatment.
For an Allogeneic Transplant:
- Recovery time for the patient: 35 days after the transplant surgery is complete
For Autologous Transplant:
- Recovery time for patient: 21 days
Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India: A Quick Background
Bone marrow is the home of blood cells. Bone Marrow contains Stem Cells, which are responsible for making 3 types of blood cells in our body. So, why are blood cells so important?
Here are the 3 highly important blood cells and their uses.
- Red Blood Cells (Carries oxygen around the body)
- White Blood Cells (Fights infections and diseases)
- Platelets (Forms clots to prevent excess bleeding)
These blood cells ensure our body remains healthy and happy! Bone Marrow Transplant is also called Stem Cell Transplant.
Leukemia and Its Effect on the Body
Leukemia is cancer of the blood. It starts in the bone marrow and then spreads along the body.
In patients with Leukemia, the bone marrow starts making abnormal white blood cells which survive better than normal cells and affect their capability to fight infections. This makes the patient’s body weak and diseased.
Patients with Leukemia have unhealthy bone marrow and blood.
AML is the most aggressive type of Leukemia.
The cancer affects Myeloid cells which are a type of white blood cells and makes them abnormal.
These abnormal cells multiply rapidly and prevent good cells from functioning.
AML occurs in adults, especially those above 60.[8]
ALL affects Lymphocytes, which are also a type of white blood cells that help fight infection.
The abnormal lymphocytes increase rapidly and disrupt healthy functioning cells.
This type of cancer mostly affects children but can also affect adults.[9]
CML is a similar type of leukemia as AML. Both types of leukemia affect the myeloid cells. However, the abnormal myeloid cell production in AML is rapid whereas in CML is slower and manageable.
CML occurs in older adults and rarely happens in children.[10]
Bone Marrow Transplant To Treat Leukemia
Bone Marrow Transplant involves replacing the unhealthy bone marrow of the patient with healthy bone marrow. The healthy bone marrow can be taken from a donor or the patient itself.
| Donor Type | Description |
| Autologous | Patient’s bone marrow is used. No outside Donor. |
| Allogeneic | Donor is external and a perfect match.
1 in 4 times the sibling is a perfect match. This is the most common type of transplant donor.[11] |
| Haplo Allogeneic | Donor is external, and partial or 50 % match. Can be parents, children or sometimes other relatives.[12] |
| Syngeneic | Donor is the Identical twin of the patient. |
What is the Success Rate of Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India?
The success rate of Bone Marrow Transplant for leukemia in India is approximately 81%.[13]
As per research conducted in India in 2020 and published in the official journal of American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, the remission or recovery rate in the research study was around 81% for allogeneic (sibling donor) transplant.
The success rate has significantly improved in India from 2015, where a study showed the success rate of allogeneic transplant to be 57.1%.[14]
Best Hospital for Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India?
With a network of 14 hospitals across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, they offer standardized and international-class healthcare services across 29 specialties.
BLK Max Hospital, one of the largest private clinics in Delhi, ranks among the top 10 Multi Sup
- 60+ Years of Experience
- JCI Accredited
- NABH Accredited
Largest Bone Marrow Transplant units in Asia
Over 2400 transplants annually
First hospital in Delhi & NCR to have Blood Irradiator facility specific to Leukemia
Partnered with Renowned Global Bone Marrow Donor Registry
Registry of Umbilical cord blood
A state-of-the-art Blood Bank with facilities like Apheresis, Blood Component Separation and Stem Cell Harvesting
Nucleic Acid Testing System for screening of blood
This multi-specialty hospital treats 20,000+ international patients annually.
With over 60 departments, the hospital is led by internationally trained medical experts and supported by dedicated patient care personnel.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for a wide range of health ailments,
- JCI Accredited
- NABH Accredited
- ISO Certified
1500 successful bone marrow transplants
Board Certified, Best-in-class Bone Marrow Surgeons in the country
Syngeneic bone marrow treatment with identical twin donor
Top-notch testing before transplant such as MUGA, Echo, EKG, Pulmonary function test etc.
Stringent infection control norms.
BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital has the largest Bone Marrow Transplant unit in Asia. Highly skilled specialists at BLK Max are performing around 2400 Bone Marrow Transplants annually and associating themselves with renowned donor registry, globally.
How Safe is Bone Marrow Transplant for Leukemia in India?
Bone Transplant for Leukemia in India is mostly Safe and Effective.
A study done in India and published in NCBI showed 95% successful results and indicated safety, tolerance and applicability to Autologous Stem Cell Transplant.[15]
Another Indian research study published with the Journal of Pediatric Hematology, deemed Haplo-Allogeneic Stem Cell transplant safe and effective with a survival rate of 70.5% children with Acute Leukemia.[16]
Conclusion
Many international patients are finding it easy to come to India for bone marrow transplant thanks to the significantly low cost as compared to US, expert transplant surgeons, and seamless facilitation.
Contact us below to get more details if you are looking for a bone marrow transplant.
FAQ
Yes, there is a chance of survival with Bone Marrow transplant. There are obvious risks associated with bone marrow transplant, but overall studies in India have shown a 70.5 % survival rate.
BLK- Max Super Specialty hospital is the best hospital in India for Bone Marrow Transplant. The hospital also has one of the biggest Bone Marrow Transplant centers in Asia.
References
- National Library of Medicine: The Cost of Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the United States
- ASH Publication: Health care costs among patients with hematologic malignancies receiving allogeneic transplants: a US payer perspective
- National Library of Medicine: The Cost of Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the United States
- National Library of Medicine: The Cost of Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the United States
- Science Direct: Cost Analysis for Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
- Journal of Blood Medicine: What Does the Economic Burden of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Look Like for the Next Decade? An Analysis of Key Findings, Challenges and Recommendations
- American Society of Clinical Oncology: How Umbilical Cord Blood Can Save Someone’s Life
- National Library of Medicine: Acute myeloid leukemia in the older adults
- American Society of Hematology: Blood Cancers
- American Cancer Society: What Is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?
- Cancer Research UK: Who can donate stem cells or bone marrow?
- National Marrow Donor Program: Haploidentical transplant
- American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia from a Tertiary Care Center in South India
- Journal of Oncology: Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in the Developing World: Experience from a Center in Western India
- National Library of Medicine: Safety and Feasibility of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Chronic Stroke in Indian patients. A four-year follow up
- Journal of Pediatric Hematology: Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation With Post-transplant Cyclophosphamide for Pediatric Acute Leukemia is Safe and Effective