A specialist opinion that means a trip to Kathmandu anyway, with the same long wait. A cardiac or cancer diagnosis that needs equipment not yet common at home. A private quote that stretches the family budget thin. This guide sets out what treatment costs in India, how the border-free travel actually works, and what recovering close to home really involves.
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For most major surgery a patient from Nepal pays a fraction of the price charged at home, and that usually holds even after flights and accommodation. Heart Bypass (CABG), for example, is quoted at US$5,200 to 8,000 in India against US$2,256 to 3,380 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 cancer case that needs a HIFU or robotic surgery team doing the procedure every week. A knee replacement that has been managed on painkillers because the wait at home ran long. For a great many Nepali families, India is not really abroad — there is no visa to arrange, and many patients travel by road for follow-up.
Accredited private hospitals use the same equipment, implants and protocols you would meet at home
These are the ranges private patients in Nepal 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 Nepal Patients in percentage format in Indian Hospitals.
For Easy Comparison, Costs are mentioned in US Dollars (USD), Indian Rupees (INR) and Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Exchange Rate UsedUS$1 ≈ NPR 133
Exchange Rate UsedUS$1 ≈ INR 95
| # | Surgery / Procedure | Nepal Private Healthcare | India Medical Tourism | Potential Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart Bypass (CABG) | NPR 300K–450K US$2,256–3,380 | INR 4.9–7.6 Lakh US$5,200–8,000 | India ~134% Higher |
| 2 | Total Knee Replacement | NPR 298K–450K US$2,244–3,380 | INR 5.9–7.6 Lakh US$6,200–8,000 | India ~152% Higher |
| 3 | Total Hip Replacement | NPR 498K–700K US$3,752–5,260 | INR 6.7–7.6 Lakh US$7,000–8,000 | India ~66% Higher |
| 4 | Kidney Transplant | NPR 1.60–2.40 M US$12,000–18,000 | INR 12.4–17.1 Lakh US$13,000–18,000 | ~0–15% |
| 5 | Liver Transplant | NPR 3.99–5.99 M US$30,000–45,000 | INR 22.8–32.3 Lakh US$24,000–34,000 | ~15–30% |
| 6 | Heart Valve Replacement | NPR 299K–450K US$2,251–3,380 | INR 5.2–8.6 Lakh US$5,500–9,000 | India ~158% Higher |
| 7 | Brain Tumour Surgery | NPR 1.00–2.00 M US$7,500–15,000 | INR 5.7–10.5 Lakh US$6,000–11,000 | ~0–30% |
| 8 | Spinal Fusion | NPR 800K–1.60 M US$6,000–12,000 | INR 4.8–8.6 Lakh US$5,000–9,000 | ~10–30% |
| 9 | Cancer Treatment | NPR 266K–1.60 M US$2,000–12,000 | INR 2.9–11.4 Lakh US$3,000–12,000 | ~0–30% |
| 10 | IVF | NPR 266K–532K US$2,000–4,000 | INR 2.4–4.8 Lakh US$2,500–5,000 | ~0–30% |
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 Nepali patients.
These are the routes Nepali patients use most often to reach our hospital hubs. Book only once your admission date is confirmed — never before.

Nepali citizens do not need a visa to enter India at all — the open border between the two countries means you travel on valid photo identification. This is what to carry and arrange.
Nepali citizens travel to India visa-free under the open border arrangement. A valid Nepali citizenship certificate or passport is enough at the border or airport.
A Nepali citizenship certificate (with photograph) or passport, plus your hospital appointment or invitation letter, which we prepare for you.
Fly directly from Kathmandu to Delhi or a nearby hub, or travel by road if you prefer — many families do, especially when bringing an attendant.
Our team meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel or the hospital, whichever the plan calls for.
If treatment or recovery runs longer than planned, there is no visa expiry to manage — you simply travel home when your surgeon confirms you are ready.
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 Nepal |
|---|---|
| Country | Nepal to India |
| Typical Saving | For most major surgery a Nepali 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 (CABG): US$5,200 to 8,000 in India against US$2,256 to 3,380 at home (India ~134% Higher saving) |
| Also Compared | Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement, Kidney Transplant, Liver Transplant |
| Specialities | Cardiac Surgery, Orthopaedics, Oncology, IVF & Fertility, Neurology & Spine, Dental Care |
| Flights | KTM to DEL, KTM to VNS |
| Visa | This is what to carry and arrange. |
| 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 Nepal. 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.