Hepatitis C Treatment in India: Advanced Care for International Patients

Advanced Hepatitis C treatment in India with GetWellGo. Specialized care, global patient support & affordable recovery for international patients.

Hepatitis C Treatment in India: Advanced Care for International Patients

Hepatitis C treatment in India

Treatment of Hepatitis C has improved immensely within the current past ten years. Cure is presently achieved by short courses of remedies, oral antiviral pills by most people. Here is a clear picture:

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that mainly attacks the liver, which is as a result of the existence of the HCV virus. When untreated, it may cause chronic liver disorder, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Aims of Treatment

  • Cure the patient (sustained virologic response, SVR = virus undetectable 12+ weeks after therapy).
  • Protect against liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer
  • Enhance health and the quality of life

Standard Treatment

Direct Acting Antivirals-DAAs (oral antivirals) have great efficacy (cure >95 %) and few side effects.

Typical DAA Regimens:

  • Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir (Epclusa) * HCV-genotype pan-genotypic (works regardless of genotype), typically 12 weeks.
  • Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (Mavyret) pan-genotypic, typically 8-12 weeks.
  • Ledipasvir + sofosbuvir (Harvoni) - 12 weeks (depending on the genotypes).

Treatment Duration

  • 8-12 weeks (majority of patients).
  • The average is 24 weeks (more in cases of intractable and advanced liver cirrhosis or repeated failures of prior treatment).

Best hospitals for Hepatitis C in India

  • Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
  • Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
  • Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
  • Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Hepatitis C treatment cost in India

This is how the cost of Hepatitis C treatment in India is currently impacted by the main variables using the freshest statistics and health policies:

Type: Branded drugs vs Generic Drugs

  • In India, the market is saturated with generic DAAs pushing the cost down by a significant margin. A 12 week course may be considerably less expensive than in the US 
  • In addition to the price of drugs, the costs of administrative & regulatory may be treated with final prices.

Diagnostics & Monitoring

  • Genotyping, viral load testing, liver scans (Fibroscan), and labs could end up adding significantly to an overall cost.
  • Within the same programs, some count these in some programs still diagnostics are out-of-pocket 

Disease Severity

  • The more the development of the disease (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma), the more expensive is both treatment and follow-up assessments 
  • Treatment is economically favorable within 2 years, and at cost-saving in 5-10 years, more so among cirrhotic patients 

Awareness and Loss Screening Reach

  • In India, less than 5 percent of individuals with HCV know that they are affected, and thus hinder the access of treatment, even when it is affordable in the country. 
  • Low screening rates translate into outreach and diagnostics placed as a key barrier since they are very expensive.

Simplicity of Access and Infrastructure

  • The high level of developed healthcare infrastructure in urban areas leads to a higher level of access to affordable DAAs and testing facilities.

Top doctors for Hepatitis C in India

Best Hepatitis C specialists in India:

  • Dr. M A Mir
  • Dr. Randhir Sud
  • Dr. Gourdas Choudhuri
  • Dr. Vivek Vij

Factors Affecting Affordable Hepatitis C treatment in India

The elements that indicate the affordability of Hepatitis C treatment in India (i.e., how the costs are lowered or they get more customer-friendly):

Availability of Generic Medicines

  • India is the worldwide leader in cheap generic DAAs (such as Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, Ledipasvir, Glecaprevir).
  • Generic licensing provisions permit the Indian pharma firms to sell their drugs at 90- 97 per cent lower prices than those in the US/EU.
  • This in itself is the largest affordability driver

Diagnostic and QC Costs

  • Although drugs are affordable, viral load testing, genotyping and Fibroscan / liver tests may be a financial burden.
  • Affordability is enhanced where programs involve diagnostics as opposed to patients having to pay on their own account

Stage of disease

  • The initial treatment is less expensive (less complications, shorter treatment with medicine).
  • When there is late detection, though (cirrhosis/liver cancer), hospitalization, monitoring, or liver transplantation costs are on the rise.
  • Therefore, affordability becomes better by way of early detection.

Awareness/Screening Reach

  • Between 50 and 5 percent of Indians with HCV are aware of their status.
  • The lack of awareness results in late diagnosis → higher costs.
  • Increasing the free screening camps and awareness campaigns will save financial expense in the long run.

Healthcare Infrastructure

  • Population centers make subsidized DAAs and PMBJP stores as well as NVHCP facilities more accessible.
  • Rural patients usually have to incur important out of pocket costs because of this lack of availability and because they cannot make it.

Hepatitis C treatment in India by GetWellGo

GetWellGo is a medical tourism that helps to connect international patients to care in India. Although it does not offer direct treatment, it offers a whole package of support which entails:

  • Recommendations of hospital and doctors including specialist in hepatology in case of Hepatitis C treatment.
  • The full medical assessment, second opinion facilitation, and personalised treatment planning.
  • Transparent cost estimation derived from partner hospitals to assist you in comparing and making knowledgeable decisions.

Logistics and support which include:

  • Agreements in Visa facilitation and medical e-visa support
  • Appointment scheduling, local coordination and case manager assistance
  • Translation and interpretations, preparation of documents such as advice notes and T-emails, etc, accommodations, local conveniences such as SIM cards and exchange of currency, etc
  • Video consultation follow-up, handling follow-up reports, and medication guidance when you get back home.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Hepatitis C Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Hepatitis C treatment.
  • Expert doctor with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food

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