What is the Bone TB Treatment Cost in India?
How much do Indians pay for Bone TB Treatment?
Bone TB occurs when you contract tuberculosis and it spreads outside the lungs. After you contract tuberculosis, it can radiate through the blood from the lungs or lymph nodes into the bone, spine or joints. Bone Tuberculosis is also called as osteoarticular TB (OAT) is a rare form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis that affects the bones and joints. It's caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the same agent responsible for pulmonary TB. Bone TB often initiate due to the rich vascular supply in the middle of the long bones and the vertebrae. OAT can lead to significant morbidity and disability if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
In India, where TB remains a public health concerns, bone TB poses a unique challenge due to its complex medical diagnosis and long-term treatment procedures. Understanding the cost associated with the bone TB treatment is helpful for the patient and their families in terms of seeking appropriate treatment plan and medical care.
Bone TB treatment Option
Without treatment, bone TB can be deadly. Bone Tuberculosis is treated with a combination of anti-tuberculosis drugs, physical therapy, and in some medical cases surgery.
Bone TB treatment cost in India can differ significantly, but generally worth between INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 for the entire treatment. However, this is a average estimate, and exact costs can depend on multiple circumstances including the severity of the condition, the chosen treatment method (medication vs. surgery), and the healthcare facility (government vs. private).
Bone TB treatment cost across the major cities of India
Here’s an average cost breakdown across major Indian cities:
| Cities | Approximate Cost (INR) |
| Bangalore | Private treatment can range from a few thousand to several lakhs while it's often free at government-run facilities. |
| Mumbai | Ranges from a few thousand to several lakhs of rupees |
| Delhi | a few thousand to several tens of thousands of rupees |
| Hyderabad | Ranging from free treatment in government facilities to potentially high costs in private hospitals, especially for surgical interventions |
| Chennai | While treatment is available free of charge at government and identified private/NGO facilities under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), private sector costs can be considerably higher. |
| Pune | Generally, treatment costs in the private sector can be higher than in government facilities. |
| Kolkata | Treatment is available free of charge at government and designated private and NGO health facilities, as part of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). While treatment costs in the private sector can be higher. |
Factors affecting overall Cost of Bone TB Treatment in India
- Severity and Location: The severity of bone TB and specific bones and the particular bone affected will decided the treatment approach and its expense.
- Treatment Type: Medication based treatment also known as anti-tubercular therapy or ATT is the primary mode that usually effective. However, in some complicated medical cases such as debridement or fusion of affected bones surgery might be necessary which is expensive.
- Healthcare Facility: Government healthcare services offer free medication and DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) services, however private medical hospitals will incur additional costs for doctor consultation fees, medications, diagnostic tests and procedures.
- Hidden Cost: Some indirect cost including cost of nutritional supplements and travel to treatment centre contribute to overall treatment expenses.
Essential Cost Components:
- Medication: Anti-tuberculosis drugs such as ethambutol (EMB), rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), and pyrazinamide (PZA) are essential for treatment, typically ranging from 6 to 18 months as duration of treatment.
- Diagnostic Tests: Various tests such as X-rays, MRI, and biopsy might be needed to diagnose and monitor the medical condition of patient. This impacts on entire treatment cost.
- Surgical Procedures: In some complex cases, surgery is required then procedures like aspiration, debridement, or fusion can add to the overall cost.
- Government Support and interventions: The Indian Government provide free of cost anti-TB drugs through the ‘Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme’. It can alleviate your pocket burden by contributing some portion of entire medical expenses. Additionally, ‘Nikshay Poshan Yojana’ provides INR 500 monthly to TB patients as nutritional support during treatment.
In conclusion, while bone TB treatment can be costly, especially with surgical interventions, free treatment options are available in India through the government program. Patients should seek immediate consultation and diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional to determine the associated costs and best course of action.
Also Read:
→ Cost of a Bone Marrow Transplant
→ Cost of a Breast Cancer Operation
→ Cost of a Breast Cancer Vaccine
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