Cost of Radiation Therapy in India

Healthcare costs in India are economical, with basic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) ranging between ₹60,000 and ₹2,25,000 per session. Advanced techniques such as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can cost more. Total treatment costs generally range from ₹1,50,000 to ₹6,00,000, depending on the type and duration of therapy. For more information about the cost of radiation therapy in India and the benefits of choosing India for your treatment, continue reading the blog.

Radiation therapy is a widely used cancer treatment that utilizes high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells or inhibit their growth. Depending on the cancer type and location, different radiation techniques can be employed to achieve the most effective results. Different types of radiation therapy include 3D-CRT, IMRT, proton therapy, IGRT, etc.

Dr. Sridhar, a renowned radiation oncologist in Bangalore said, "Radiation therapy plays a crucial role in cancer treatment by targeting and destroying cancer cells with high-energy radiation. It's effective in shrinking tumors, preventing cancer recurrence, and providing palliative care to alleviate symptoms. This treatment is tailored to each patient's specific cancer type and stage, maximising therapeutic benefits while minimizing damage to healthy tissues."

Here is an estimate of radiation therapy cost in India by type (depending on the recommendation of your consulting radiation oncologist in India

There are two major types of radiation therapy. You will notice there is a huge variation between the costs of these types. To clear your doubts, we have explained various reasons for this below :

1. Internal Radiation Therapy (IRT) :

IRT is also known as Brachytherapy. Usually, the type of cancer and the techniques used will determine the cost of Brachytherapy.

It is most suitable for the treatment of Eye Cancer, Head & Neck Cancer, Skin Cancer, Breast Cancer, Gallbladder Carcinoma, Uterine Carcinoma, Vaginal Cancer, Lung rectum, and Prostate Cancer.

2. External Beam Radiation Therapy:

There are many forms of techniques and procedures for external beam radiation therapy, and the cost of each varies from one another. Following is the range of the expenses for different methods and techniques of radiotherapy.

There is another type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery. This type of radiation therapy is mainly used on brain tumors. The cost of radiation therapy for brain tumors in India ranges between $12,000 and $55,000. However, with some additional treatments, total expenses can easily exceed $100,000.

*To be on the safer side, be prepared for a 5% to 10% variation on the estimated cost depending on your condition. This cost estimates the procedure only and does not include external expenses such as hospital room rent, nursing charges, food, etc.

Cost comparison of radiation therapy with other developed countries:

One of the many reasons to choose India for radiation therapy is its cost-efficiency in major treatments such as this.

Below we have compared costs between India and developed countries for radiation therapy.

The reasons for variations in costs between India and other developed countries are:

1. Currency: The value of Indian currency is lower than the USD, pounds, euro, etc. so, all the costs, including major treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, and other cancer treatments, are lower than in other developed countries.
2. Standard of living: India's economic and social indicators are quite low compared to other developed countries such as the USA, UK, etc. So the prices of day-to-day facilities such as transport, accommodation, food, and medical treatment are cost-effective.
3. Competition: Many research centers and cancer treatment Hospitals in India follow international standards of treatment and quality. Since most of them have Radiation therapy-related technology and specialists with cost-effective treatment, you can have your pick of hospitals.
4. Hospitals: Many private and government hospitals provide different types of radiation therapy techniques. The cost of radiation therapy in India at these hospitals is cost-effective. 
   For example, the cancer hospitals in Delhi use cutting-edge technology to provide the best medical and surgical treatments for various cancer patients, and they do not compromise quality. Some of the hospitals in India are globally recognized and have international accreditation.
5. Doctor: One of the major factors for the reasonable cost of radiation therapy in India is the low doctor charges compared to developed countries. The cost of consultation and further getting treatment from the doctors depends on the doctor’s qualifications, experience, and the hospital they practice.

Radiotherapy cost comparison in different countries

Disclaimer: The cost mentioned here is for two travelers for around 25 days, including hospital and accommodation. This is an average cost being mentioned here, which is subject to change.

Post/Pre-Radiation Therapy Costs

There will be many costs that can occur before and after the radiation therapy, depending on the recommendation of your medical oncologist in India. So to help you prepare for the same, we have listed all the probable costs in the following table :

Let's take a look at the other cancer treatment options beyond radiation therapy. 

Additional treatments

Sometimes there might be a requirement for multiple treatments because the tumor is too big to be removed easily or to ease the symptoms of cancer, so the cost for such treatments is:

Following is an estimated basic range of radiotherapy costs in India between a private hospital and a government/charitable hospital in India :

1. Private Hospitals:  Cancer Treatment at private hospitals in India is at par with any cancer hospital in the world. Usually, to receive treatment in hospitals in India, there is almost no queue or waiting list.
2. Government/Charitable Hospitals: While the technology and treatment techniques are excellent with minimal cost, the waitlist is much longer than other hospitals. Mostly they do not provide medical tourism services.
   
   • General plan: Usually, you will be in a queue with another patient to receive subsidized treatment.
   • Private plan: Here, the patient will have to pay a little extra for a quick consultation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Factors impacting the cost of radiation therapy in India

• The treatment package: The cost of radiation is determined as per the doses and the length of treatment required for a patient. This consequently depends on the type of cancer, stage, the radiation technique required, etc. Generally, the hospital has a package that determines the overall cost of cancer treatment in India.
   
• The type of cancer: The cost of radiation therapy varies drastically depending on the type of cancer being treated—a set of international standards that entail what types of cancer would require which type of radiation therapy. So, the cost would depend on which type is the best for you as per your radiation oncologist.
   
• Cost of the machine: Different machines are used for different radiation therapy techniques. When it comes to external beam radiation therapy, the building, installation of machines, and setup have huge costs. This cost will also affect the overall cost. If not done recently, a primary biopsy will cost around ₹30,000($432) to ₹35,000($504) radiation therapy as well.
   
• Place of treatment (City and hospitals): Hospitals in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore may charge higher fees than those in smaller cities or towns. Additionally, well-established clinics with experienced practitioners might have higher rates.
   
• Stage of cancer: The cancer stage also affects the overall cost of radiation as the required doses and types of radiation vary for every type of cancer.
   
• Accommodation and other miscellaneous costs: Other miscellaneous costs such as accommodations in the hospital if required are not included in this cost. These factors will affect the overall cost.