High treatment costs for Guillain Barre Syndrome in Hyderabad, Govt support needed, says expert

Given that the treatment involves extensive rehabilitation, ventilator support, and potential physical disability, individuals with medical insurance may face significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Hyderabad: Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a treatable disease!

However, the cost of treating GBS patients is on a higher side, ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The costs could even escalate further, as 20 to 25 percent of GBS patients need ventilator support, which is prohibitively highly expensive in private hospitals in Hyderabad.

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Since the treatment also includes a lot of rehabilitation, ventilator support and even physical disability, individuals with medical insurance will struggle with their out-of-pocket expenditure.

Senior neurologist from Hyderabad, Dr Sudhir Kumar, well known on social media platform X (@hyderabaddoctor) for his public health advisories, pointed out that Government help would be needed for such individuals.

As for the actual treatment and costs, based on set guidelines, Dr Sudhir Kumar points out that immunotherapy should be the preferred choice of treatment for doctors.

“Immunotherapy through Intravenous Globulins (IVIG) is the drug of choice for treatment of GBS. The total dose is 2 grams per kilogram of body weight, which is split into 5 days, and given as infusion,” he advises.

For example, for a patient weighing 60 kilograms, the total required dose would be 120 grams (60 multiplied by 2). This dose would be split into 5 days (25 grams each on day 1 to day 4, and 20 grams on day 5), he said.

The IVIG injections are sold in two dose forms including 5 grams and 10 grams vials with cost of each vial ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 approximately. “So, the total cost of IVIG alone would be about Rs 2,50,000 to Rs 3,00,000 for one patient,” Dr Sudhir points out.

Apart from the medicines, the GBS treatment also includes hospital stay, ICU care and ventilation, in case it is needed for patients.

“After discharge from the hospital, most patients have to undergo physiotherapy for 2-3 months for optimum recovery. This cost also needs to be factored in. So, the overall cost for treating a person with GBS is likely to be Rs 4 to Rs 5 lakh,” Dr Sudhir said.

Apart from all this, indirect costs including loss of income from job due to illness and physical disability (for at least 1 to 3 months) will be additional.