Kidney transplant in India
Kidney transplant care. Planned step by step.
MedPanda helps patients from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and the UK plan a living donor kidney transplant at partner hospitals in India. We guide you and your donor through the legal paperwork, visas, travel and a place to stay, and we stay in touch after you get home.
*No obligations. Truly free.
Get a kidney transplant in India and save up to 63%* on hospital costs
Hospital treatment for international patients starts from about US$13,000. Transplant teams at partner hospitals review your records before you travel, and you get a written plan and quote that includes your donor's care. *Compared with the transplant cost reported in Ghana. See the cost table below.
Explore MedPanda Kidney Transplant Care
LIVING DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
For patients from abroad, the kidney usually comes from a living family member. Kidneys from living donors are more likely to work straight away and to keep working for longer. The operation usually takes 2 to 4 hours.
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Most patients stay in hospital for 4 to 10 days.
Whether a transplant is right for you is a medical decision for your kidney specialist and the transplant team.
KEYHOLE SURGERY FOR THE DONOR
Your donor's kidney is usually removed by keyhole surgery, which takes about 2 to 3 hours. Donors have health checks first to make sure they are fit to donate.
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Donors usually stay in hospital for 3 to 4 days.
DIALYSIS
Dialysis removes waste and extra fluid from your blood. If you are on dialysis, you will need sessions in India too while you prepare for your transplant. Haemodialysis is usually three sessions a week of about 4 hours.
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Bring a summary from your dialysis unit with your recent blood results, and we help you book sessions before you arrive. STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad and Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi list dialysis services on their websites.
ANTI-REJECTION MEDICINES
After a transplant you take anti-rejection medicines for life, exactly as prescribed. Common medicines include tacrolimus, mycophenolate and steroids. Side effects can include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, weight gain and weaker bones.
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You have regular clinic visits and blood tests, which slowly drop to about once every 3 to 4 months after the first year if all is well. Before you travel, check with your kidney doctor at home that they can take over your care, and that your medicines are available and affordable where you live.
Get urgent medical help for a temperature of 38°C or above, passing little or no urine, shortness of breath or new chest pain.
How MedPanda helps
- Free consultationSend us your scans and doctors' reports. We talk you through your options at no cost and with no obligation.
- Hospital quotes, compared for youWith your consent, our world-class partner hospitals review your records and send their quotes. Each sets its quote out differently, so we put them side by side in one clear format: the doctor, the procedure, what the price includes and the facilities. You compare like for like and choose what suits you.
- Visa, travel and stayWe help with the hospital letter for your visa, flights, airport pick-up and a place to stay nearby.
- Aftercare at homeYour reports are kept in your Lifetime Health Passport, and we stay in touch once you are home.
Cost
Kidney transplant care at a fraction of the cost
Explore how much you could potentially save on a kidney transplant in India compared with the transplant cost reported in Nigeria and Ghana.
| Where | Transplant price there | India price (from) | You save* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | US$18,800 to US$22,500 | US$13,000 (approx.) | 31% to 42% |
| Ghana | US$21,000 to US$35,000 | US$13,000 (approx.) | 38% to 63% |
*The figures above are intended to give patients a general idea of the potential cost savings when choosing a kidney transplant in India. Savings compare hospital costs only. India: indicative starting price for international patients from publicly available price guides, October 2026. Nigeria: ₦25 million to ₦30 million, reported by Nigerian kidney specialists in March 2026. Ghana: US$21,000 to US$35,000, hospital estimates reported in Accra in 2023 and Kumasi in 2025. The hospital sets your final price after reviewing your medical reports. Flights, visas, accommodation and a stay of about 6 to 8 weeks for you and your donor are extra.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kidney transplant cost in India?
For international patients, the indicative hospital price starts from about US$13,000 (October 2026). Ask what it covers, such as your donor's care, tests, extra dialysis and take-home medicines. The hospital confirms the final price after reviewing your medical records.
How much does a kidney transplant cost in Nigeria?
Nigerian kidney specialists put it at about ₦25 million to ₦30 million in March 2026 (about US$18,800 to US$22,500), depending on the hospital and location. Anti-rejection medicines afterwards are an extra monthly cost. Read more in our guide to kidney transplant costs in Nigeria.
Can a foreigner get a kidney transplant in India?
Yes, but the rules are strict. Your embassy must certify your relationship with your donor, and a hospital committee approves the case before surgery. Bring original birth or marriage certificates. A DNA test may be asked for if the papers are not enough, and you and your donor are interviewed in person.
Who can be my kidney donor?
Under Indian law, a living donor for a patient from abroad is usually a near relative: a husband or wife, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild.
Can MedPanda find a kidney donor for me?
No. MedPanda never arranges, finds or pays donors, and we will not work on any case where we believe an organ is being bought or sold. Buying or selling organs is a serious crime in India, with prison sentences of 5 to 10 years. If anyone offers you a kidney for money, say no and tell the hospital.
How long do I need to stay in India for a kidney transplant?
After you leave hospital, you visit the transplant clinic once or twice a week at first, so you and your donor stay near the hospital for about 6 to 8 weeks in total. Most people need one long trip, then regular check-ups at home. Your transplant team tells you when you are ready to fly.
How long does a transplanted kidney last?
The NHS says about 9 in 10 transplanted kidneys still work after 5 years, and many work for 10 years or more. Results depend on age, health and the cause of kidney failure, so this is not a prediction for you.
How much does dialysis cost in Nigeria and Ghana?
Private haemodialysis in Nigeria cost ₦50,000 to ₦80,000 per session in March 2026, and in Ghana it cost about GH¢491 to GH¢1,000 per session in 2024 and 2025 (public and private). Read more in our guide to dialysis and kidney transplant costs in Ghana.
Do I and my donor need a visa to travel to India?
Yes, you each need a visa. Patients from the UK, Ghana and Kenya can apply online for an e-Medical visa. Nigerian passport holders apply for a regular Medical visa at the High Commission of India in Abuja or the Consulate General of India in Lagos. The High Commission in Abuja asks transplant patients for a donor and patient compatibility report with the application, and the one in Nairobi asks for a notarised donor and recipient agreement with attested documents. India also asks travellers arriving from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya for an original yellow fever certificate. We help you both with each step.
Partner hospitals that offer kidney transplants
- Aster Medcity, Kochi
- Aster MIMS, Kozhikode
- Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode
- Meitra Hospital, Kozhikode
- Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi
- Apollo Hospitals, Chennai
- STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad
- Gleneagles Hospitals, Mumbai
- Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram
BEGIN YOUR HEALING
JOURNEY WITH US
*No obligations. Truly free.
We respect your privacy. We don’t spam, your information is kept confidential and shared only with your consent.Checked by Dr Sreeraj K.V (MBBS, DNB), Reg. No. 93547, on 21 October 2026.
MedPanda is a care-coordination service. We don't diagnose or give medical advice. Your treating doctor decides what treatment, if any, is right for you.
Sources
- The Guardian (Nigeria): World Kidney Day, dialysis hits N80,000 per session, transplant N30m (12 March 2026).
- GhanaWeb: Korle Bu kidney transplants by a Ghanaian team (13 July 2023). Modern Ghana: first kidney transplant in the Ashanti Region (29 January 2025).
- Graphic Online: NHIS offers free dialysis for patients (3 June 2024). Graphic Online: private dialysis at Sage Medical Centre (24 April 2025). News Ghana: dialysis support (13 October 2025).
- NHS: Chronic kidney disease, treatment. nhs.uk
- NHS: Dialysis. nhs.uk
- NHS Blood and Transplant: Receiving a kidney; At the transplant centre; Benefits and risks; Kidney transplant medicines; Warning signs. nhsbt.nhs.uk
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act 1994 (as amended 2011) and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules 2014, Government of India.
- High Commission of India, Abuja: Medical visa. hciabuja.gov.in
- High Commission of India, Nairobi: Visa services. hcinairobi.gov.in
- Government of India: e-Visa and e-Medical visa. indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India: yellow fever advisory for travellers. mohfw.gov.in
- India prices: indicative starting prices from publicly available price guides, October 2026. Final prices are set by the hospital.
