A specialist opinion that means a trip to Nairobi, and even then a long wait. A cancer treatment plan that needs equipment no local hospital runs yet. A quote in shillings that puts the operation out of reach. This guide sets out what the same treatment costs in India, how the visa and flights actually work, and what recovering far from home really involves.
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For most major surgery a patient from Kenya pays a fraction of the price charged at home, and that usually holds even after flights and accommodation. Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG), for example, is quoted at US$5,500 to 9,000 in India against US$9,300 to 15,500 at home. Patients travel mainly for cardiac surgery, orthopaedics, oncology, ivf & fertility. Send your reports and Forerunners will arrange the specialist opinion, the written estimate, the visa letter and your stay in India.
A joint replacement with a year-long public wait. A fertility journey that has already used up two rounds of savings. A neurology case that needs a second opinion Kenya cannot yet offer. For a great many Kenyan families, India is not a downgrade from home care — it is the option that was actually available in time.
Accredited private hospitals use the same equipment, implants and protocols you would meet at home
These are the ranges private patients in Kenya are actually quoted, set against the Indian figure for the same operation rather than a best case. Indian prices cover the surgery, the surgeon’s fee and the hospital stay. The chart shows the potential cost savings for Kenya Patients in percentage format in Indian Hospitals.
For Easy Comparison, Costs are mentioned in US Dollars (USD), Indian Rupees (INR) and Kenyan Shilling (KES)
Exchange Rate UsedUS$1 ≈ KES 129
Exchange Rate UsedUS$1 ≈ INR 95
| # | Surgery / Procedure | Kenya Private Healthcare | India Medical Tourism | Potential Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG) | KES 1.2–2.0 M US$9,300–15,500 | INR 5.2–8.6 Lakh US$5,500–9,000 | ~25–60% |
| 2 | Angioplasty + 1 Stent | KES 600K–1.0 M US$4,650–7,750 | INR 3.3–5.2 Lakh US$3,500–5,500 | ~15–55% |
| 3 | Bilateral Total Knee Replacement | KES 1.2–1.8 M US$9,300–13,950 | INR 5.7–8.6 Lakh US$6,000–9,000 | ~30–60% |
| 4 | Total Hip Replacement – 1 Hip | KES 700K–1.1 M US$5,400–8,500 | INR 4.3–6.7 Lakh US$4,500–7,000 | ~10–55% |
| 5 | Kidney Transplant | KES 1.9–2.6 M US$15,000–20,000 | INR 9.5–13.3 Lakh US$10,000–14,000 | ~10–45% |
| 6 | Liver Transplant | KES 3.6–4.5 M US$28,000–35,000 | INR 21.9–28.5 Lakh US$23,000–30,000 | ~10–35% |
| 7 | Brain Tumour / Major Neurosurgery | KES 2.5–6.0 M US$19,400–46,500 | INR 5.1–8.6 Lakh US$5,400–9,000 | ~55–85% |
| 8 | Spine Surgery / Spinal Fusion | KES 1.0–2.0 M US$7,750–15,500 | INR 4.8–9.5 Lakh US$5,000–10,000 | ~30–70% |
| 9 | Bariatric Surgery | KES 829K–1.1 M US$6,400–8,500 | INR 3.8–6.7 Lakh US$4,000–7,000 | ~25–55% |
| 10 | IVF – Standard Cycle | KES 600–700K US$4,650–5,400 | INR 2.4–4.3 Lakh US$2,500–4,500 | ~15–55% |
Not everything justifies a long journey. These are the areas where the arithmetic, the waiting lists or both tend to make the trip worthwhile for Kenyan patients.
These are the routes Kenyan patients use most often to reach our hospital hubs. Book only once your admission date is confirmed — never before.

Kenyan passport holders apply entirely online. We supply the hospital invitation letter you will need at step two.
Go to the Indian government’s official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, and select the e-Medical Visa category. Avoid the unofficial sites that charge a mark-up for the same form.
A passport valid for at least six months, a recent photograph, your hospital invitation letter, travel itinerary and proof of funds. The invitation letter is generated by the hospital on the Government of India’s Medical and Ayush Visa portal — we arrange it for you.
Paid online by credit or debit card. The government sets the fee — it has recently been in the region of $25 — and it does change, so check the current figure on the portal.
Processing usually takes about three to five business days, and the portal asks you to apply at least four days before you travel. It arrives by email; print a copy and carry it with you alongside your passport.
Typically valid 60 days with triple entry. If treatment runs longer, an extension can be applied for through the FRRO, and we help arrange it.
The medicine is only part of it. These are the practical things that decide whether a trip feels manageable or overwhelming.
Doctors, nurses and coordinators speak English, and every record you are given — consent forms, reports, discharge summary — is written in it.
Native-language interpreters are available to help international patients communicate easily and comfortably throughout their medical journey in India.
Hospital meals can be adapted, and every city we work in has familiar options nearby. Tell your coordinator about allergies or a restricted diet early.
Serviced apartments and hotels within easy reach of the hospital, so nobody is crossing an unfamiliar city twice a day while you recover.
One named person on WhatsApp or the phone for appointments, a local SIM, currency, transport — and for the moments when something goes wrong at an inconvenient hour.
Discharge documentation formatted so your physician back home can pick it up directly, plus teleconsultation with your Indian surgeon if a question comes up later.
Guided physiotherapy from the day you are cleared to move, with a written home exercise plan before you fly so recovery does not stall on the flight back.
Itemised bills, receipts and medical reports prepared in the format most travel and international insurers ask for, so you are not chasing paperwork later.
Everything an international patient usually asks, on one screen.
| Detail | Treatment In India From Kenya |
|---|---|
| Country | Kenya to India |
| Typical Saving | For most major surgery a Kenyan patient pays roughly a fifth to a third of the price back home — and that is usually still true after flights and... |
| Cost Example | Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG): US$5,500 to 9,000 in India against US$9,300 to 15,500 at home (~25–60% saving) |
| Also Compared | Angioplasty + 1 Stent, Bilateral Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement – 1 Hip, Kidney Transplant |
| Specialities | Cardiac Surgery, Orthopaedics, Oncology, IVF & Fertility, Neurology & Spine, Dental Care |
| Flights | NBO to BOM, NBO to DEL |
| Visa | We supply the hospital invitation letter you will need at step two. |
| Language | Medicine in India is taught and practised in English. |
| Accreditation | JCI is the same body that accredits leading hospitals across the world. |
| On The Ground | English Throughout, Interpreter & Translation Services, Food You Recognise, Somewhere For Family To Stay, A Coordinator... |
| Send Us | Recent scans or imaging, diagnosis or discharge summary, current medicines, and the dates you can travel |
| We Arrange | Doctor opinion, written hospital estimate, visa invitation letter, flights guidance, stay and follow-up |
Your reports are read by a specialist in the relevant field before any estimate is sent
Write to us today for trusted, personalized guidance and let us help you access quality healthcare in India at significantly more affordable costs.
We believe every international patient deserves the BEST MEDICAL VALUE FOR THE MONEY SPENT.
Our mission is to help patients make informed healthcare decisions in India — from understanding their medical reports and exploring the right treatment options, to connecting with trusted doctors and hospitals, and accessing high-quality treatment at the MOST AFFORDABLE PRICE.
We are committed to helping you find the right treatment, the right medical team, and the right value — with the best quality. When you travel thousands of miles for healthcare, every decision matters.
Full accounts from our patient library, in their own words rather than summarised by us.
Share your diagnosis, recent scans and the quote you were given at home. A specialist reviews it and we come back with honest options and a clear written estimate — usually within a day. It costs nothing, and if India is not right for your case we will tell you that too.
Share your reports and we will connect you with the right specialist.
Private & ConfidentialMedical disclaimer: This guide is general information for people planning medical travel from Kenya. It is not a diagnosis, medical advice, or a substitute for consultation with a qualified doctor. Costs, exchange rates, visa rules and fees, flight schedules and recovery times vary between patients and change over time — visa requirements should be confirmed on the Government of India’s official portal, and anything affecting your treatment should be confirmed with our team and your treating specialist after your reports have been reviewed.