Sickle cell bone marrow transplant in India
Sickle cell transplant. A possible cure.
For some people, a bone marrow transplant can cure sickle cell disease. MedPanda connects families with specialist transplant teams at partner hospitals in India, and plans the whole trip for the patient, the donor and a carer, from the first consultation to aftercare at home.
*No obligations. Truly free.
Get a sickle cell transplant in India and save up to 73%* on hospital costs
Hospital treatment in India starts from about US$23,300. A specialist transplant team reviews the patient's records and tissue-typing results before anyone travels, so your family has a written plan and quote first. *Compared with an estimated UK private hospital price. See the cost table below.
Explore MedPanda Sickle Cell Transplant Care
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT
A bone marrow (stem cell) transplant replaces the faulty blood-making cells with healthy cells from a donor. It is currently the main treatment that can cure sickle cell disease, for patients a transplant team finds suitable.
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Aster Medcity, Kochi, Aster MIMS, Kozhikode and Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram name sickle cell anaemia among the conditions their transplant teams treat. Gleneagles Hospitals, Mumbai lists bone marrow transplants for children with sickle cell disease.
MATCHED SIBLING DONOR TRANSPLANT
The donor's tissue type (called HLA) needs to match the patient's as closely as possible. Each full brother or sister has a 1 in 4 chance of being a full match, which makes siblings the most common donors.
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The first step is usually an HLA blood test for the patient and their brothers and sisters. We tell you how to arrange it and share the results with partner hospitals.
HALF-MATCHED (HAPLOIDENTICAL) TRANSPLANT
Parents are always a half match for their children, and children for their parents. Brothers and sisters have a 1 in 2 chance of being a half match. Some hospitals offer half-matched transplants when there is no full match, though they may carry a higher risk of complications.
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CHEMOTHERAPY AND STEM CELL INFUSION
Before the transplant, the patient has chemotherapy to clear out the faulty bone marrow, usually for 1 to 10 days. The donor's stem cells are then given through a drip, a bit like a blood transfusion, and the patient recovers in a protected room while the new cells start to grow.
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EGG AND SPERM STORAGE
Chemotherapy can cause infertility. Ask the transplant team about storing eggs or sperm before treatment starts.
Know moreHow 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
Sickle cell transplant care at a fraction of the cost
Explore how much you could potentially save on a sickle cell bone marrow transplant in India compared with the cost reported in Nigeria and an estimated UK private hospital price.
| Where | Transplant price there | India price (from) | You save* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Over US$60,000 | US$23,300 (approx.) | Over 61% |
| UK private hospital | £66,000 US$87,800 (approx.) | £17,500 US$23,300 (approx.) | 73% |
*The figures above are intended to give families a general idea of the potential cost savings when choosing a bone marrow transplant in India. Savings compare hospital costs only. India: indicative starting price from publicly available price guides, October 2026. Nigeria: cost reported in June 2026 (over ₦80 million). UK: estimate, as UK private hospitals don't publish a fixed price for this treatment. The hospital sets your final price after reviewing the patient's medical reports. Flights, visas and several months' stay for the patient, donor and carer are extra. UK residents who meet the NHS criteria can have a transplant on the NHS.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can sickle cell be cured?
For some people, yes. A bone marrow transplant can cure sickle cell disease, but it is not suitable for everyone and it carries serious risks, so a transplant team decides after a full assessment. Read more in our article Can sickle cell be cured?
How much does a bone marrow transplant cost in India?
The indicative hospital price starts from about US$23,300 (£17,500), October 2026. The hospital confirms the final price after reviewing the patient's medical records. Flights, visas and several months' stay for the patient, donor and carer are extra.
Is there a new cure for sickle cell disease?
In 2025 the NHS in England approved a gene therapy called exa-cel (Casgevy) for some people aged 12 and over with severe sickle cell disease who have no matched donor. It is offered only in specialist NHS centres. MedPanda does not arrange gene therapy.
Who can have a bone marrow transplant for sickle cell, including adults?
The transplant team looks at how severe the sickle cell disease is, such as strokes, repeated chest crises or frequent severe pain. It also looks at age, heart, lung and kidney health, and whether a suitable donor is available. Some adults can have a transplant, especially with a fully matched brother or sister as donor, but results tend to be better in children and younger adults. Your haematologist and the transplant team decide with you.
Can children travel to India for a transplant?
Yes. Children travel with a parent or guardian, and we plan visas, travel and a place to stay for the whole family, including a brother or sister who is the donor.
How long do we need to stay in India?
Usually several months: several weeks in hospital, then frequent check-ups near the hospital, weekly at first. Plan for one long stay with a carer. The transplant team gives you a plan before you travel.
Can I have a bone marrow transplant in Nigeria or Ghana?
The World Health Organization's Africa office says transplant services in the region are limited compared with the number of people affected. Ask your haematologist about the options available to you.
Is a bone marrow transplant safe?
No transplant is free of risk, and no hospital can guarantee an outcome. Risks include infection, graft-versus-host disease (when the donor's cells attack the body) and the chance that the new cells don't take. The transplant team reviews the patient carefully and explains every risk before you decide. Ask the hospital about its own results for patients of the same age, and talk to your own doctor too.
Do we need visas to travel to India for treatment?
Yes. The patient, the donor and the carer each need a visa. Nigerian passport holders apply for a regular Medical visa in Abuja or Lagos, and Ghanaian and UK passport holders can apply online for an e-Medical visa. Everyone travelling from Nigeria or Ghana also needs an original yellow fever certificate for India. We help your family with each step.
Partner hospitals with transplant services
- Aster Medcity, Kochi
- Aster MIMS, Kozhikode
- Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram
- Gleneagles Hospitals, Mumbai (children)
- STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad
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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
- NHS: Sickle cell disease. nhs.uk
- NHS: Stem cell or bone marrow transplants (what it is, how it's done, recovery, complications). nhs.uk
- NHS England: Clinical commissioning policy, stem cell transplantation for adults with sickle cell disease (2020). england.nhs.uk
- NHS England: Gene-editing therapy for sickle cell (31 January 2025). england.nhs.uk
- NMDP: HLA typing and matching. nmdp.org
- Anthony Nolan: Haploidentical stem cell transplants. anthonynolan.org
- Leonard A, Tisdale J. Stem cell transplantation in sickle cell disease. Expert Review of Hematology, 2018.
- WHO Regional Office for Africa: Sickle cell disease regional factsheet (May 2024).
- News Agency of Nigeria: Sickle Cell Club urges FG to subsidise transplant programme (20 June 2026).
- 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 and UK prices: indicative prices from publicly available price guides, October 2026. Final prices are set by the hospital.
