Special correspondent
Pune: The rising cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Pune and across the state are posing a major challenge for patients, especially the economically disadvantaged. The cost of treatment for this condition is beyond the affordability of many, with expenses running into lakhs of rupees.
The average cost of treating a GBS patient is over ₹5 lakhs. While the Maharashtra government’s Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana offers some relief by covering treatment costs up to ₹2 lakhs, the total cost for treating the disease often exceeds this amount, leaving families struggling to find the remaining funds.
In Pune, the number of GBS patients has reached 73, with over half of them currently receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICU). Currently, 14 patients are on ventilators. For patients admitted to smaller hospitals, treatment costs range between ₹5-6 lakhs, which can escalate to ₹10 lakhs in medium-sized hospitals and even beyond ₹10 lakhs in large hospitals. This makes GBS treatment unaffordable for many people from lower-income backgrounds.
To address this, the Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to provide financial support for the treatment of poor patients suffering from GBS.
GBS treatment typically involves plasma exchange and Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. The cost of plasma therapy ranges between ₹3 to ₹3.5 lakhs, while the cost of IVIG treatment can range from ₹4 to ₹5 lakhs. In IVIG therapy, the patient receives Immunoglobulin injections, each costing ₹20,000 to ₹25,000. On average, a patient weighing 60 kg requires 5-6 injections per day, amounting to a daily cost of ₹1 lakh for the injections alone.
For patients in smaller hospitals, the daily cost of ICU treatment and ventilator support is around ₹10,000 each. For a five-day stay, the cost can reach approximately ₹50,000. The total treatment cost for a patient on a ventilator for five days can range from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakhs, depending on the hospital’s size and facilities, as explained by Dr. Ravindra Chhajed, director of Harsh Hospital.
This hefty price tag has led to a growing concern among families of patients who are asking where they can find the additional funds required for treatment beyond the coverage offered by the government scheme. The financial burden of this life-threatening condition continues to be a major issue for many in the region.
