Considering Kidney Transplant Abroad? A Guide to Costs and Top Destinations

Considering Kidney Transplant Abroad? A Guide to Costs and Top Destinations

Introduction

Kidney transplantation is a major surgery that involves the placement of a healthy kidney in the body of the patient. The doctors conduct the surgery only when both the kidneys are not functional or when the patient has end-stage kidney disease.

The healthy kidney is retrieved from the body of a suitable living donor. The living could be related to the patient or completely unrelated, yet emotionally attached to the patient. A majority of countries, however, do not allow kidney transplantation from an unrelated donor. Singapore and Turkey are two such countries that allow kidney transplantation from unrelated yet known donor.

Some countries allow the use of a kidney from a cadaveric donor as well. In such cases, it is mandatory that the deceased person is registered as a donor. If the deceased person was not a donor, the immediate family members can give their consent to donate the organs of the cadaver. However, a majority of countries allow kidney transplantation from a cadaveric donor for their own nationals and not a patient from abroad.

The kidney transplantation legal formalities and laws for foreign nationals, however, varies from one country to the other. It is a complex and major procedure that involves a series of testing on the patient and the donor. It also involves a thorough review and scrutiny by the Ethics Committee in case of an unrelated donor. The purpose of this scrutiny is to check that it is a genuine case of kidney transplantation and there is no illegal organ donation involved.

The objective of this Kidney Transplantation Cost Guide is to brief you about the costs and expenses that you may have to incur while undergoing a kidney transplant abroad. Additionally, it provides a detailed break-up of what you should expect before, during, and after kidney transplantation in terms of expenses.

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Kidney Transplant - Conditions, Procedure and Recovery

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When is Kidney Transplantation Advised?

Doctors recommend kidney transplantation to patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Stage 4 or Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). The doctors first conduct a series of tests to check the functioning of the kidneys, including the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and creatinine levels. If indicated, they may recommend kidney transplantation to extend the life of the patient.

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Explore Hospitals across Top Destinations for Kidney Transplant

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Dialysis vs. Kidney Transplant: Weighing the Costs

Patients with ESKD are advised to undergo dialysis once, twice, or thrice a week, depending on the medical condition of the patient. Dialysis is important to ensure that the body of the patient keeps functioning normally and the waste products are eliminated from the body. An alternative to dialysis is kidney transplantation, following which dialysis is no longer required in the long term.

Kidney transplantation is an expensive procedure as compared to dialysis. However, a kidney taken from a donor lasts for around 10 to 15 years. However, dialysis is required at regular intervals.

Therefore, in terms of cost-effectiveness, kidney transplantation is preferred as compared to dialysis. This is because every time a patient gets dialysis done, he or she has to pay for the procedure and also bear the hospital bed charges.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Kidney Transplantation

Kidney Transplantation

 

Here’s a breakdown of the key factors influencing kidney transplant costs

  • Country: Compared to other medical tourism destinations, India offers significantly lower transplant costs. For instance, Singapore can be 5-10 times more expensive.
  • Number of Dialyses Required: Both the donor and recipient may need dialysis before and after surgery. More dialysis sessions increase the overall cost.
  • Recipient and Donor Parameters: Abnormal blood test results requiring additional management can raise the treatment cost.
  • Type of Donor: Unrelated donors demand extra precautions and medications, leading to higher costs.
  • Total Hospital Stay: Extended hospital stays for the recipient or donor (due to complications) can significantly increase the bill.
  • First vs. Second Transplant: Repeat transplants require more intensive care and medication, hence a higher cost. This may include additional treatments like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
  • Chances of Rejection: Pre-surgery tests may indicate a higher risk of rejection. Treatments like plasmapheresis or IVIG to reduce rejection come at an extra cost.
  • Ethics Committee Approval: Unrelated donor transplants require approval from an Ethics Committee, involving documentation and translation, which adds to the cost. This is more common in countries like Singapore and Turkey.
  • Other factors to Consider:

>>Patient’s overall health
>>Choice of hospital (facilities and reputation)
>>Accommodation type
>>Number of follow-up visits
>>Management of complications (if any)
>>Travel and living expenses (meals, medications)
>>Surgeon’s experience

Comparative Cost Analysis of Kidney Transplantation: Top Countries

Country

Kidney Transplantation Cost
(Incl Pre-surgery Investigations for Recipient and Donor)

India

$ 12,000- $14,000

Turkey

$ 23,000- $25,000

Singapore

$ 50,000- $120,000

Thailand

$ 50,000- $60,000

Kidney Transplantation Cost Itemized Breakdown

Pre-surgery Costs Surgery Cost Post-surgery Costs
  • Physical examination
  • Doctor’s consultation
  • Recipient’s work-up
  • Donor’s work-up
  • Blood tests
  • Dialysis
  • Psychiatrist evaluation
  • Cardiac check-up
  • Medications
  • Pre-operative preparation
  • Documentation
  • Surgery team fees
  • Anesthesia charges
  • OT charges
  • Other consumables and medicines
  • Laboratory charges
  • Medications cost
  • Other special consumables
  • Any additional service availed
  • Dialysis
  • Any other consultation
  • Complications management
  • Unanticipated care
  • Follow-up sessions
  • DJ stent removal

Tests Required for Recipients in Kidney Transplantation:

Tests for recipients for Kidney Transplantation

Tests Required for DONORS in Kidney Transplantation:

Tests required for Donors in Kidney Transplantation

 

Internationally Recognized JCI-certified Hospitals For Kidney Transplantation

Country Hospital
India Indraprastha Apollo Hospital (Delhi NCR)
BLK Hospital (Delhi)
Max Hospital (Delhi NCR)
Fortis Group of Hospitals (Pan India)
Turkey Medipol Mega University
Memorial Healthcare Group
Anadolu Medical Center

India:

  • National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)

Inaugurated only in the year 2014 Wockhardt Hospital in Mira Road has been active in providing comprehensive healthcare and has become a name well revered by people for its high quality services given in a healthy and restorative environment.  High end critical care services are available in Wockhardt Umrao which includes consultancy for treatment packages and diagnostics service and therapies. It has a vast building with 14 stories dedicated to various departments making it a multi spe... Read More

101

PROCEDURES

15

DOCTORS in 13 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

Apollo Hospital

Chennai,India

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI
  • National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)

In the year 1983 Apollo Hospitals Chennai- the flagship hospital was established. They were the first to nurture the idea in the nation to not only provide holistic healthcare but uplift it to be the face of international standards catering to individual reach and capacities. They have worked tirelessly to catapult education, research and healthcare to reach its best times in the nation.

Strategically located, hotels near Apollo hospital Chennai is very easy to locate. The hospital h... Read More

140

PROCEDURES

42

DOCTORS in 13 Specialties

20+

Facilities & Amenities

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI
  • National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals in Kolkata is the joint venture between Apollo Group of Hospitals chain of India and Parkway Health from Singapore. It is the only hospital to be accredited with the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI), an international benchmark for quality treatments in the Eastern zone of the Indian subcontinent after a thorough evaluation procedure of testing safety and quality consistency parameters.

In six different categories it has received the much co... Read More

138

PROCEDURES

36

DOCTORS in 13 Specialties

20+

Facilities & Amenities

Turkey:

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Altunizade Hospital is one of the most recent additions to the Acibadem Group, which is now renowned for its authentic architecture and specialized services. Located in the Üsküdar-Altunizade region, the hospital is known to have the largest indoor area in not only Istanbul but the rest of the country as well.

The hospital is the first facility to offer the Gamma Knife ICON device for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases and tumours, allowing specialists to administer ... Read More

80

PROCEDURES

45

DOCTORS in 12 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Situated in Istanbul, Turkey & largest city, the International Hospital is a multi-specialty medical center offering the treatment and care in several healthcare specialties. The 118-bed hospital was recognized in 1989 and it is part of the Acibadem Healthcare Group, which holds 11 hospitals in Turkey.

Medical services and treatment vary from cardiology to neurosurgery, cosmetic surgery, oncology, orthopedics and many more. The hospital was modernized in 2006 and now has comforta... Read More

96

PROCEDURES

27

DOCTORS in 11 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

History

Bahcesehir Liv Hospital is under the aegis of Istinye University. The hospital starts its operation in 2016. It is an excellent example of the collaboration of knowledge and technology. The services provided by the hospital include training, investigation, and education. The hospital has a world-class infrastructure. The hospital has a patient-centric approach and the vision is to treat patients successfull... Read More

55

PROCEDURES

36

DOCTORS in 11 Specialties

20+

Facilities & Amenities

Thailand:

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Phythai2 Hospital is a leading healthcare center in Bangkok offering world-class medical services to people since July’1987. The hospital is built on the theme which combines world-class clinical expertise, academic and research-based design with Thai hospitality. Centrally located at 943+Phaholyothin Road and is within walking distance of Sanam Pao BTS Skytrain Station which makes it easy access for patients from all parts of the city.

A multi-specialty hospital in the heart o... Read More

103

PROCEDURES

49

DOCTORS in 11 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

Vejthani Hospital

Bangkok,Thailand

  • National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)
  • National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

Vejthani hospital was established in the year 1994 in Thailand. Since then they have strived to provide world-class medical care to all with their exceptionally innovative patient-centric care approach. They have served immensely in their community and have opened their doors to serve the whole country of Thailand. In order to uphold the spirit of giving quality services to all they have laid special emphasis on having all their accreditations in place and having them renewed as per industry... Read More

107

PROCEDURES

50

DOCTORS in 13 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

Bangkok Hospital

Bangkok,Thailand

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

One of the most renowned and honoured hospital networks in Asia- Pacific is Bangkok Dusit Medical Services ( BDMS). It has certification in clinical care program and also JCI accreditation. Due to its reputation it has been successful in building an international client base being able to cater to variety of medical needs and giving top tier services. In the year 2015 they have secured 5 th rank in the world of revenue having a market capitalization worth US$9.3 billion and bringing US $1.8 ... Read More

113

PROCEDURES

42

DOCTORS in 13 Specialties

4+

Facilities & Amenities

Singapore:

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore is the latest and a recent addition to the Mount Elizabeth legacy. This is a highly advanced and modern hospital that marks the beginning of a new era in the field of tertiary care medical treatments.

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital features more than 250 specialist physician suites that provide comprehensive tertiary care healthcare to patients from across the world. The hospital interiors have been tastefully designed to provide an enhan... Read More

104

PROCEDURES

13

DOCTORS in 14 Specialties

6+

Facilities & Amenities

Parkway East Hospital

Singapore,Singapore

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Parkway East Hospital in Singapore is one of the most established and oldest hospitals in the country. This hospital, located in Telok Kurau and formerly known as the East Shore Hospital, was established back in 1942. Since then, the staff at the hospital has treated and provided healthcare services to thousands of domestic as well as international patients travelling for quality and affordable treatment services.

Parkway East Hospital started off as a clinic and a maternity hospital... Read More

91

PROCEDURES

0

DOCTORS in 14 Specialties

15+

Facilities & Amenities

Gleneagles Hospital

Singapore,Singapore

  • Joint Commission International, or JCI

Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore is a multispecialty healthcare facility, located extremely close to the center of the local shopping district. Situated close to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, this hospital is accessed by thousands of patients from within the country and abroad primarily because of its location that can be easily approached by a patient looking forward to high-quality treatment.

Gleneagles Hospital is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), which is ... Read More

102

PROCEDURES

0

DOCTORS in 14 Specialties

20+

Facilities & Amenities

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Top Kidney Transplant Surgeons in Thailand Without Video Consultation

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Conditions Treated by Dr Thananda Trakarnvanich

Dr. Thananda Trakarnvanich treats many conditions in patients as mentioned below

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Last modified on blank at May 27, 2024

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