Deep Brain Stimulation Cost in India [Reduce DBS cost!] – DBS Surgery in India – Drkharkar

Deep Brain Stimulation cost in India varies between Rs.12 lakh to Rs. 16 lakh.

Most of the cost variation is based on the DBS device used.

A rough breakup of the minimum cost is as follows:

ExpenseApproximate cost

(INR)

Approximate cost

(USD)

Pre-operative evaluationRs. 50,000$ 680
DBS Device (Activa-PC)Rs. 7.6 lakh$ 10166
Operation charges (Hospital)Rs. 1 lakh$ 1337
Doctor’s charges (Neurologist, Neurosurgeon etc)Rs. 1.5 lakh$ 2006
Hospital stay including medicationsRs. 1.5 lakh$ 2006
TOTAL

(Minimum cost of DBS in India – For example, at Nanavati Hospital)

Rs. 12.1 lakh$ 16,195

On the whole, this is the minimum DBS cost in India, or rather the DBS cost in Mumbai.

This is the typical DBS cost for Parkinson’s in Mumbai, when my team at Nanavati hospital, Mumbai treats a patient with DBS.

This cost of Deep Brain Stimulation in India may vary with time and location. It is very reasonable to get a firm, clear estimate from the hospital before making a decision.

You should know a few critical things:

DBS cost in Charitable/Governmental Indian institutes

Some semi-charitable hospitals in India also perform this procedure. For example, the Nizam’s institute of medical sciences in Hyderabad performs a large number of DBS surgeries.

Another option is the Sree Chitra Insitute in Thiruvantapuram, Kerala.

A third option is AIIMS, in New Delhi.

AIIMS
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is one of the Governmental organizations providing phenomenal services to Indians, including DBS.

The DBS cost at these Governmental institutions may be even lower. They may also be able to acquire the DBS device at lower cost from the companies.

But logistically, getting a DBS at charitable institutes in India may be a bit difficult. These institutes deliver really admirable, yeoman service with excellent outcomes to a very large number of people.

For example, the wait periods for getting DBS are frequently very long, sometimes many years. Scheduling appointments may be difficult.

If you are particular about convenience, timings, accessibility, personalized attention & counselling etc you may want to follow-up at a private hospital instead.

DBS cost with non-US DBS devices

Two manufacturers in China have now started manufacturing DBS devices.

Here are the links to the 2 Chinese companies manufacturing DBS:

  1. PINS Medical
  2. SceneRay Medical 
Chinese DBS device cost
Two chinese companies have started producing DBS devices. These are cheaper, but less well-proven as compared to the US devices.

Just to remind you, there are 3 US manufacturers of DBS devices. You can read all about the American DBS devices by reading this article on my website.

Here are the links to the company websites.

  1. Medronic ‘s Activa System
  2. Abbot’s Vercise System
  3. St. Jude’s Inifinity system.

The cost of Chinese DBS devices is expected to be much lower than the US-made devices. There are three issues to consider:

  • These devices have not been specifically approved by the Indian FDA yet.
  • The effectiveness of these devices is not as well established as US devices.
  • The very long term reliability of the hardware is not known.
  • Long term service (e.g. battery replacements & availability of DBS programming devices) is a concern.

This is a developing situation.

China makes reliable cell phones and other electronic devices. However, their expertise in manufacturing medical electronics is not as established as the US.

At this point, this appears to be an unreliable option to reduce DBS cost in India.

But as more information becomes available, this might be one avenue through which Deep Brain Stimulation Cost in India may be reduced.

If the cost is lower, is DBS surgery in India inferior to USA/UK/Europe?

No.

India is one of the best countries in the world to get tertiary level care.

The level of care given by my team at Nanavati hospital, Mumbai is excellent & comparable to any other hospital in World.

Almost all members of our team at Nanavati hospital, Mumbai – including myself – are internationally trained.

Surgeon experience:

Having worked in many systems throughout the world, I can confidently state that the expertise of Neurosurgeons in India is second to none.

The stereotactic procedure used to insert the wire into a precise position may seem like magic. Thankfully, it is used in many other brain procedures, particularly brain biopsy. As a result, many neurosurgeons in India have excellent results with the procedure.

Surgical Equipment:

At this time, much of the neurosurgical equipment is imported. For example:

  • The Frame used to guide wire insertion is imported from the USA or Europe. Many places use the Leksell system from Sweden, which is one of the most popular systems internationally.
  • The MRI and CT machines are usually from one of 3 manufacturers – Philips, Seimens or GE (USA).
Stereotactic frame used for DBS surgery scaled
Much of the surgical equipment used for DBS in India is imported from the US / Europe.

DBS devices used in India

Lastly, regarding the DBS devices, the US devices are marketed by the same companies in India, who also provide the after-surgery services. 

Amongst all DBS systems, the price of Medtronic’s Activa system is the lowest in India. Therefore, it is the most commonly used DBS device in this country.

Why do some DBS surgeries cost up to Rs. 16 lakh or even more?

The higher cost of surgery is mainly based on the type of DBS device used. Should you select a more expensive device?

  • The DBS devices which are rechargeable are costlier than the non-rechargeable devices. They last longer. So, battery changes are not required often.
  • The newer devices from Abbot (Vercise) and St. Jude (Infinity) offer technologically advanced features like current steering. But they are also very expensive.

Here is a video describing what the newer, more expensive devices can do:

You can read more about DBS device selection here. But let me quickly summarize the important points.

The advanced programming offered by the more expensive devices (Vercise & Infinitiy), may help in some cases. But these advanced features are rarely required.

The regular devices offer just as much improvement, in almost all cases.

Should you select an expensive DBS device?
If you can afford it, it is worthwhile to consider rechargeable & advanced devices. But if your finances are limited, you can select the regular devices (eg. Activa PC) without hesitation.

I am going to give some frank advice here.

Talk with your doctor in detail, and make sure you give serious consideration to his/her preference. The use of current-steering devices is evolving.

As more information becomes available we might get better at selecting the patients who need these devices (As a hypothetical example: if the wire is likely to off-target due to brain shape/head shape, it is better to select a device with current steering).

A few other factors may also affect DBS cost in India:

  • Neurologist & Neurosurgeon fees, which may vary.
  • Hospital fees, type of room selected etc.

Are there any other ways to reduce DBS cost in India?

Almost in all cases, DBS is done by using two wires. One on the left and one on the right. This is called “Bilateral DBS”.

However, in certain cases, a single wire may provide good benefit. This is called “Unilateral DBS”.

In general, when I recommend DBS for Parkinson’s disease, I recommend bilateral DBS. However, in carefully selected cases, unilateral DBS may be useful.

bilateral DBS versus unilaeral dbs cost in india
Bilateral DBS on the left, Unilateral DBS on the right. Unilateral DBS is cheaper than Bilateral DBS.

Unilateral DBS is especially useful if:

  • Your symptoms are mostly only on side of your body.
  • You have uncontrolled depression or thinking problems – because these can get worse with bilateral DBS of the STN.
  • If you want to reduce the DBS cost as much as possible.

Since it is only on one side, almost everything is reduced by half: the surgery time is reduced, only one wire is needed, and a much smaller battery (e.g. the Activa SC) is needed.

Well, almost everything is reduced by half. The cost of the DBS device is not.

For example, the Activa-SC device still costs 70-80% of the regular device (Activa-PC).

But the cost of unilateral DBS overall tends to be lower than bilateral DBS. Certainly, this is one option to explore if you meet the criteria mentioned above.

If it is required later, a Unilateral DBS can be converted into a Bilateral DBS. This method of staged treatment has very good results as well.

In summary

  • DBS cost in India is much lower than in other countries.
  • My team at Nanavati Hospital is able to provide world class care.
  • The total DBS cost in Mumbai, at my hospital is about 12 lakh.
  • Currently, only US-made devices are used.
  • Surgical experience is excellent.
  • Almost all the equipment used is the same as in the UK/US.
  • In some cases, Unilateral DBS (single wire) can be considered to further reduce Deep Brain Stimulation cost in India.

Keywords – DBS Surgery for Parkinsons Disease, Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease, deep brain stimulation cost india, life after dbs surgery, how long does deep brain stimulation last, best hospital for dbs surgery, deep brain stimulation patient reviews, who is a good candidate for deep brain stimulation, deep brain stimulation parkinsons side effects

Caution: This information is not a substitute for professional care. Do not change your medications/treatment without your doctor's permission.
Dr. Siddharth Kharkar

Dr. Siddharth Kharkar

Dr. Siddharth Kharkar has been recognized as one of the best neurologists in Mumbai by Outlook India magazine and India today Magazine. He is a board certified (American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology certified) Neurologist.

Dr. Siddharth Kharkar is a Epilepsy specialist in Mumbai & Parkinson's specialist in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

He has trained in the best institutions in India, US and UK including KEM hospital in Mumbai, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), USA & Kings College in London.

Call 022-4897-1800

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NeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson's Clinic - Dr. Kharkar IconNeuroPlus Epilepsy & Parkinson's Clinic - Dr. Kharkar

near LIC, Dr Balabhai Nanavati hospital, near LIC, Swami Vivekananda Road, LIC Colony, Vile Parle

4.6 87 reviews

  • Avatar Paras Prabhu ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    Out patient is epileptic from about 10 years and her seizure gotten worse during the past year with the frequency of about 3-4 times a week.So we consulted … More Dr. Kharkar. He tried a few medicines, and within 1.5-2 months now the patient is feeling very well now. There are no seizures for 14 days currently.Dr. tried to keep medicines as minimum as possible. He also tried to keep the cost of the treatment minimum.When some of the medicines started showing side-effects, he was quick to switch the medicines to the better options.Overall I think we are getting a best of the available treatments. We thank you very much Dr. Kharkar.
  • Avatar Dr Shobha Sankhe ★★★★★ a month ago
    Dr Kharkar is gem of a doctor with tremendous patience, empathy, genuine concern for his patients .He guides them very methodically & scientifically … More for their neurological ill healthOur epilepsy patient is extremely happy with his treatment , Patient feels better by just visiting him too!May his selfless service to humanity flourish to reach all the needy patients!!
  • Avatar shrruti khanna ★★★★★ a month ago
    I consulted Dr Sidharth for my sister who has become very hyper and aggressive and we could not understand the issue. Keeping in mind she is someone with … More special needs Dr Sidharth was extremely understanding of the situation and did not put her through unnecessary investigation and avoided a very long stay at the hospital. He was infact more keen on her returning home to her natural environment. We highly appreciate Dr Sidharth for his effort and for looking into the matter with utmost care. It was a very difficult decision for my family to get my sister admitted but we are glad we did it under his care.Thankyou Doc.
  • Avatar Prashant Purohit ★★★★★ a month ago
    my name is prashant purohit. I m become completely bed ridden from last 9 months and was unable to walk. I couldnt find out the cause even after visiting … More many doctors and many hospital in Ahmedabad nd jodhpur.started losing hope. A good friend of mine suggested to visit a neurologist. After searching a lot, I came to know about Dr. Siddharth Kharkar and took his appointment in Nanavati Hospital. He examined and said that he suffered from \u201cPKD(PAROXYSMAL KNESIGENIC DYSKNESIA\u201c. He assured us to reverse this in 5 days time. And indeed this happened. I started recovering miraculously. today I am fully well fit I m walking as normal . Many Many thanks to Dr. Siddharth Kharkhar sir for giving me a new life.
  • Avatar Sanjay Pradhan ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Dr. Kharkar is truly exceptional. He is extremely knowledgeable. But simultaneously, he is extremely patient and kind - taking the time and care to respond … More to all the questions. It is rare to come across a doctor who is not in a hurry to get on to the next patient, but instead, focuses on the one in front with full attention, expertise and compassion. A great experience.
  • Avatar N N ★★★★★ a year ago
    We visited Dr. Kharkhar for treatment regarding my mum - who is a multi-stroke patient and has aphasia. Certain medications were creating complications … More with her condition and Dr. Kharkhar was able to help mitigate the issue. We found him and his approach to be incredibly compassionate, considerate, individualized and patient-friendly. He advice is astute, up-to-date and empathetic. His treatment always comes from a deeply human place and is about seeing how to help the patient and their caregivers feel more at ease. Something that is quite rare and refreshing within the medical community.We feel that he genuinely cares about the patients that he is treating and is always kind and respectful in his communication. Moreover, his admin team is very efficient and prompt and it's a pleasure to deal with them.Would highly recommend Dr Kharkhar himself - though we must say our experience with Nanavati hospital itself has been less than ideal.Hope this helps.
  • Avatar Manish Ranjan ★★★★★ a year ago
    I have been visiting Dr Kharkar for treatment of my father. He is a very friendly doctor. He listens to our concerns with lot of patience. He also explains … More the issue in much greater details. He has really been of great help. My father is much better now.
  • Avatar Pinakin Shah ★★★★★ a year ago
    One of the best Dr. Gives complete attention and time to listen to patient's history, issues. Explains various options of treatment with pros and … More cons.
  • Avatar Lawrence Castellino ★★★★★ a year ago
    Exceptional experience with an expert,Dr. Kharkar is a knowledge house. It is rare nowadays to find doctors with patience, knowledge, and a flair for … More handling patient’s questions, besides Dr. Kharkar’s bedside manners are exemplary. I am privileged to be treated by such an amazing soul. I have told him and will repeat it here that “I am advancing my move back to India although I am a US Citizen, because I know I am in good hands and will be well taken care of. Thanks Dr. Kharkar for your selfless service!
  • Avatar Hemant Kansara ★★★★★ a year ago
    Great doctor!! Really appreciate.The doctor diagnosed to my sister correctly and start treatment, she has good improvement after taking medicine prescribed … More by doctor as no epilepsy attake. We have good experience with the doctor. Thank you

9 thoughts on “Deep Brain Stimulation Cost in India [Reduce DBS cost!] – DBS Surgery in India – Drkharkar”

  1. Hello Dr Siddharth,
    My mother is 67 yr old and has Parkinson’s since 12-13 yrs, since then she is on medications. she is in advanced stage of Parkinson’s. Her symptoms are getting worsen day by day. She has now hallucinating, slurred speech, whole body shaking, constipated for 10 days, and her legs are completely stiff. I want to know at what extent DBS surgery would be helpful in my mother’s case?

    Reply
    • The main question you need to ask your neuroligst is whether she has “regular” Parkinson’s disease or whether she has one of the parkinsons plus syndromes.

      Read more here: https://drkharkar.com/parkinsons-plus-syndromes/

      If she has “regular” Parkinson’s disease, DBS may be helpful.
      If she has one of the Parkinson’s Plus syndromes, then DBS unfortunately will not be very helpful.

      I wish you the best,
      Dr. Siddharth Kharkar.

      Reply
    • You’re most welcome. I’m glad it helped you.

      Reply
    • You are most welcome. I hope this information helps you make a decision regarding DBS for Parkinson’s disease.

      Reply
  2. Very simple & informative explanations
    Of. DBS operation & devices
    Great Dr & thanks for the same

    Reply
      • Dear Dr.Siddharth,

        My father aged 75 has been diagnosed with Atypical Parkinson’s almost 8 months back. He is on Syndopa 3 tabs a day & multivitamin tablet.
        He used to have his drinks regurlaly but post hernia surgery he was advised to give up
        Post 2nd dose of Covid in October 21 he now needs help for everything.
        cannot eat on his own n sometimes gets very rigid while feeding him food n we have to kind of force .
        Please advise
        warm regards
        Sangita

        Reply
        • Parkinson’s disease can worsen transiently when you have another acute condition such as an infection.

          But a lot of neurologists have noticed that COVID does worsen Parkinson’s disease disproportionately. Usually this deterioration is transient but an adjustment of medications may help him to tide over this part.

          Reply

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Noted as one of the best Neurologists in Mumbai

India Today Magazine - 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Outlook India Magazine - 2021, 2023

Ex-Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, USA

Outlook India - Best neurologist in Mumbai