ECMO Support Cost in New Delhi, India

The cost of ECMO support in New Delhi typically ranges from $620 to $6,000 USD (about ₹58,800 to ₹5.69 lakh), depending on the hospital, room category and type of procedure.

What you pay depends mainly on your own case. If support is needed for only a short time, your bill is likely to be closer to $620 (about ₹58,800). It is likely to be nearer $6,000 (about ₹5.69 lakh) if support lasts many days, or complications or extra procedures are needed.

When comparing New Delhi packages for ECMO support, check whether each quote includes:

• Daily intensive care and ECMO team charges
• Circuit and consumables
• Blood products and tests
• Specialist fees

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is a form of life support that pumps blood out of the body, through an artificial lung that adds oxygen, and back again, supporting the lungs or both heart and lungs.

The American Lung Association lists severe lung failure such as ARDS, severe pneumonia or pulmonary embolism, heart failure or cardiac arrest, complications after heart surgery or transplant, and support while waiting for a transplant.

It stresses that ECMO does not treat the underlying disease, but buys time for the organs to recover or for another treatment to be arranged.

Blood thinners keep the circuit from clotting, which makes bleeding a major risk. The American Lung Association also lists blood clots, stroke, infection and equipment faults.

Patients may need support for anything from a few days to several weeks.

Fit-to-fly window: patients are cleared to travel only after recovery, and some need an air ambulance with medical staff, so check that travel insurance covers medical repatriation.

A Delhi estimate for ECMO support is usually built from these parts:

• Daily intensive care and ECMO team charges: intensivist, perfusionist and nursing cover.
• Tests and blood products: frequent blood tests and transfusions.
• Admission deposit: the hospital may ask for one at the start.
• ECMO mode: veno-venous or veno-arterial.
• Days on the circuit: billed per day.
• Circuit and intensive care: disposables and one-to-one nursing.
• Underlying illness: and other treatment needed.

ECMO is billed mainly by the day, so the total can climb far beyond the range shown if support lasts for weeks. Ask a Delhi ICU about daily charges and deposits.

ECMO is only offered where an intensive care unit has a trained ECMO team and perfusion support, which in Delhi means larger tertiary hospitals rather than smaller nursing homes.

India's national hospital standard is set by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India whose standards are accredited by ISQua; you can check a Delhi hospital's current NABH status on the NABH website.

Delhi has a long record with international accreditation: India's first hospital to receive Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, in July 2005, is in New Delhi, and JCI keeps a public list of accredited organisations.

Patients travelling from abroad can apply online for India's e-Medical visa, and accompanying family members for an e-Medical Attendant visa; check the current conditions on the official Indian visa portal before booking.