Over the past few years, many people have chosen to have deep brain stimulation surgery in India. This article looks at the key factors you should consider when selecting a hospital or surgeon in India for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

According to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, over seven to 10 million people worldwide are afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease in which brain cells that control body movements start dying. The patient’s condition worsens over time, and the patient may start experiencing tremors, stiffness, slow movements, and loss of reflexes. Deep brain stimulation surgery is an effective treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. 

In deep brain stimulation surgery, a brain pacemaker is implanted in the thalamus of the brain. The pacemaker sends electrical impulses to parts of the brain to block abnormal activity. The FDA approved deep brain stimulation surgery as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease in 2002. However, there is no US national medical policy on coverage for this surgery. Some states do cover the surgery but for the remaining people, an option is to visit countries like India or Costa Rica for the deep brain stimulation surgery.

Here are the four key factors you should keep in mind when looking for a hospital for deep brain stimulation surgery in India:

• India is a cost effective medical tourism destination. The cost of most surgeries including brain stimulation, spinal fusion and cervical disc replacement  in India is only a fraction of their cost in USA. The average cost of deep brain stimulation surgery in USA is $50,000.  Even after you add travel and accommodation costs, a deep brain stimulation surgery in India can result in 50 to 75% cost savings. Look for a hospital in India that provides an all inclusive medical package at a fixed price.

• Deep brain stimulation surgery is a complex surgery requiring a high degree of medical expertise. It should be performed by only an experienced team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neurophysiologists. India specializes in neurosurgery. Many of India’s neurosurgeons have graduated from top medical schools in USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. For deep brain stimulation surgery, you should look for a surgeon who has an M.S. or M. Ch. degree in neurosurgery. In addition, the neurosurgeon should be trained in functional and stereotactic surgery. The team should have experience in treating Parkinson’s disease and related problems, such as movement disorders.

• Because of the complex nature of deep brain stimulation surgery, it should be performed only at a hospital that has state of the art equipment for the surgery. This includes facilities for MRI and CT scans, computerized brain mapping technology, and sophisticated imaging and microelectrode recording equipment. Look for a hospital that meets these requirements. Ensure that the hospital follows international standards of quality and cleanliness.

• You should check the track record and past performance of the hospitals you are considering. You can look at patient testimonials of the hospital. If possible, contact some of the patients or their relatives personally to take feedback from them about the hospital, the effectiveness of the surgery, and the post operative service.

Medical-Trip facilitates low-cost deep brain stimulation surgery in India. For more information, fill the estimate-request form on the right.