Chemotherapy Cost in India

In summary

Published estimates for chemotherapy in India run from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 per cycle, and most do not name a data source. Study data gives firmer figures: a Tata Memorial Centre study found that systemic therapy for breast cancer cost Rs. 50,869 on average.

Key takeaways 

• In the National Sample Survey (2017–18), mean out-of-pocket spend for a cancer hospital stay was Rs. 38,859 in public hospitals and Rs. 1,15,771 in private hospitals.
• Biosimilar trastuzumab costs Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 30,000 a vial, against Rs. 55,000 to Rs. 75,000 for the originator.
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) covers up to Rs. 5,00,000 per family per year, including oncology.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) caps the waiting period for pre-existing diseases at 36 months.

Ask the hospital for a written estimate for each cycle before treatment starts, and check your policy's waiting periods and cancer sub-limits.

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The drug combination decides the cost more than any other factor, followed by the number of cycles and the type of hospital. Medicines make up 27.8% of out-of-pocket spend on outpatient visits and 45% of spend on hospital admissions, according to Prinja et al. (Frontiers in Public Health, June 2023).

A biosimilar is a near-copy of a biologic drug that is sold at a lower price after the original drug's patent ends. Ask your oncologist whether a biosimilar is suitable for your regimen. Do not switch drugs on your own.

Targeted drugs raise the cost of a cycle by tens of thousands of rupees, and they are the main reason a course can reach several lakh rupees. Conventional chemotherapy drugs kill fast-dividing cells. Targeted drugs act on a specific protein in the cancer cell, and they are often given along with chemotherapy.

The only sourced drug price in this article is trastuzumab, a targeted drug for HER2-positive breast cancer. A November 2025 poster at ISPOR Europe, a health economics conference, compared prices in private pharmacies:

The poster reports that biosimilars cut the price by 50% to 70%. Impact Guru's guide estimates conventional regimens at Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 80,000 per cycle and targeted regimens at Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 or more per cycle at private hospitals, but it names no source for these figures.

The number of vials per cycle depends on your body weight and the dose, so your oncologist can give the cost for your own regimen.

Medicines are less than half of what a cancer patient spends. Prinja et al. (2023) found that the average cancer patient spent Rs. 3,31,177 out of pocket in a year across seven cancer centres. Diagnostics, such as blood counts and scans, took 36.4% of outpatient spending.

The Tata Memorial Centre breast cancer study shows the same pattern. Medical costs were 56.3% of the total treatment cost of Rs. 2,58,095, so 43.7% was not medical cost. Systemic therapy was the largest medical item at Rs. 50,869, ahead of radiotherapy at Rs. 33,483 and surgery at Rs. 25,075.

Budget for these items on top of the drugs:

• Day-care or bed charges for each cycle.
• Blood counts and scans before and between cycles.
• Anti-nausea medicines and growth-factor injections.
• Consultation fees at each visit.
• Travel and stay, if your treatment centre is in another city.

Of the patients in the Tata Memorial Centre study, 74.4% received some financial assistance. The mean amount was Rs. 71,724, which covered 27.8% of the total cost.

Check government cover first, then ask about biosimilar drugs and public hospitals. Each step can cut the amount you pay out of pocket.

1. Check PM-JAY eligibility. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY gives Rs. 5,00,000 per family per year for hospital care, and its packages include oncology. It covers over 12 crore families, selected on the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 criteria. Check your name on the National Health Authority portal or at an empanelled hospital.
2. Ask for a biosimilar. Where your oncologist agrees, a biosimilar can cost 50% to 70% less than the originator drug.
3. Compare public and private centres. A public cancer centre charged about a third of the private out-of-pocket amount in the 2017–18 survey.
4. Ask for a written estimate. Request a per-cycle estimate that lists drugs, day-care charges and tests, and compare it between hospitals.
5. Check your insurance before treatment. Ask the insurer whether outpatient chemotherapy is covered and whether your cancer falls under a waiting period.

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Chemotherapy costs can differ between government, private and trust hospitals because of differences in medicine pricing, facility charges, treatment infrastructure and available financial support. A chemotherapy cycle in India can range from about Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 2,00,000, depending on the regimen and patient requirements.

When comparing hospitals, request a written, itemised estimate covering medicines, administration, tests and supportive care. Cost should be considered alongside the treatment plan and medical advice.

Chemotherapy expenses can extend beyond the medicines and infusion charges. Additional costs may arise from monitoring, supportive care and managing treatment-related complications. The actual expenses depend on the cancer type, treatment plan, clinical needs and hospital.

• Blood tests: Routine blood counts and other laboratory tests may be required before or during treatment to monitor health and treatment response.
• Imaging: Scans or other imaging tests may be advised during treatment, including after a few cycles, depending on the cancer and treatment plan.
• Dietary support: Some patients may need nutritional counselling or specialised dietary support during treatment.
• Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy may be recommended when cancer treatment or reduced activity affects strength, mobility or function.
• Hospitalisation: Complications such as severe neutropenia or infection can require hospitalisation, adding medical and supportive-care expenses.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy costs in India depend on the cancer type, treatment regimen, medicines, number of cycles, hospital charges and additional care. Expenses can also include diagnostic tests, supportive medicines, nutritional support and hospitalisation for treatment-related complications. Understanding these costs in advance can help you plan your medical finances and review whether your health insurance provides coverage for eligible cancer treatment expenses, subject to the policy terms and conditions. Explore plans to review health insurance options and understand the coverage available for eligible medical expenses.