Treatment of kidney disease is a costly affair. While we have a long way to go for promoting crowd funding in treatment of kidney disease, it is encouraged that people get their medi-claim, health insurance, etc in place in order to save from the worry of ongoing treatment cost. The cost of medicines may go upto Rs fifty thousand per month in addition to per dialysis cost of Rs 1500 (Rupees fifteen hundred) . In addition, there are doctor’s fees, unexpected hospital visits due to any complications, etc. A transplant in India may cost from Rs 5 lakhs to Rs fifteen lakhs or more.
The cost of treatment may be broken down into following:
Doctor’s visit which may include visit to Nephrologist (for kidney), cardiologist (for heart), diabetologist (for diabetes) and nutritionist (for kidney disease stage specific diet).
Pathological tests: Blood and urine tests for confirming kidney disease (mentioned in Kidney Function Test/ Renal Profile) and thereafter monthly tests for review of Creatinine, Uric acid, Haemoglobin, Potassium, etc)
Other tests: ECG, EEG, CT Scan
Medicines: Generally, doctor may prescribe various medicines to control high blood pressure, high blood sugar, uric acid, and other medicines to suffice for reduced kidney functioning in the body.
AV Fistula operation: The cost of an AV fistula construction is Rs 6000 to Rs 20000 from a government hospital to varying grades of private hospitals.
Hormone injections: Insulin for high blood sugar and erythropietin for anemia in CKD patients. (eg. Mircera injection for treating anemia in CKD patients may cost in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000). The average cost of erythropoietin per month is Rs 4000 (bio similar) to Rs 10000 (the pioneer brand). Dosage will depend upon doctor’s advise. Insulin injections for diabetic kidney patients costs from Rs 150 to Rs 1500 depending upon composition and brand of the injection).
Dialysis: Generally, three dialysis per week is recommended to ESRD patients. Dialysis centres may charge Rs 800 to Rs 2000 per dialysis.
Dialyzer: There are high flux dialysers and low flux dialysers. High flux dialysers are recommended more often which can be repeated 3 times. Low flux dialysers are used only once. Dialyzers are generally supplied by the dialysis centres and may be cost from Rs 800 to Rs 1200.
Hospitalization: CKD patients may suffer from nerve problems and suffer brain haemorrhage, cardiac arrests due to hyperkalemia, heart attack due to cardiovascular problems, or excess build up of fluids in the body leading to emergency dialysis. Hospitalization charges depends upon the type of hospital and cost of treatment may vary from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh.
As per the Indian Renal Foundation, the cost of getting haemodialysis (12 dialysis / month) is around Rs 12000-15,000/- per month whereas for peritoneal dialysis it is around Rs 18000 to 20,000/- per month. The cost of each hemodialysis (HD) session in India varies from Rs 150 in government hospitals to Rs 2000 in some corporate hospitals. The monthly cost of HD in most private hospitals average Rs 12000 and the yearly cost of dialysis is Rs 1, 40000. In case of transplantation the patient has to shed around 4 lakhs on an average, plus post-transplantation medication and treatment requiring another Rs 15000-20,000 per month.