A lung transplant is a life-saving surgical procedure for individuals suffering from end-stage lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis. India has emerged as a global hub for lung transplant surgery, attracting international patients with its combination of world-class hospitals, advanced infrastructure, and highly experienced surgeons.
This article explores everything you need to know about lung transplant surgery in India, including procedure details, costs, top specialists, and success stories with Medserg.
What is Lung Transplant Surgery?
Lung transplant surgery involves replacing one or both diseased lungs with healthy donor lungs. It is typically recommended when other treatments fail to improve a patient’s lung function. There are three types of lung transplants:
- Single-lung transplant
- Double-lung transplant
- Heart-lung transplant
Patients must undergo a thorough evaluation to determine eligibility, and once listed, they await a suitable donor match
Why Choose India for Lung Transplant?
India is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after destinations for lung transplant surgery due to the following reasons:
- Highly skilled cardiothoracic surgeons with international experience
- Affordable surgery cost compared to the US, UK, or Europe
- NABH and JCI-accredited hospitals with advanced ICU setups
- Zero or minimal waiting period for donor organs
- Multilingual care teams and dedicated patient coordinators
Lung Transplant Surgery Cost in India
The cost of a lung transplant in India is significantly lower than in Western countries. On average, the surgery cost ranges between:
- Minimum Cost: $40,000 USD
- Maximum Cost: $60,000 USD
This includes the surgery, pre-operative evaluations, hospital stay, and post-operative care. For more details, visit Lung Transplant Surgery Cost in India.
Compared to the U.S., where lung transplant can cost over $1 million, India offers world-class care at a fraction of the cost, making it ideal for medical travelers.
Top 5 Lung Transplant Surgeons in India
1. Dr. Anil Bhan – Chairman Cardiac Surgery, Medanta Hospital
Dr. Bhan is a globally renowned cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon with over 15,000 cardiac surgeries to his credit. His expertise spans lung and heart transplants, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and pediatric heart interventions.
Hospital: Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram
2. Dr. Sandeep Attawar – Founder Director, KIMS Hospital
Dr. Attawar is one of the pioneers of heart and lung transplants in India. With decades of experience in advanced heart failure therapies and thoracic organ transplantation, he leads one of the country’s most successful transplant programs.
Hospital: KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad
3. Dr. Govini Balasubramani – Senior Consultant & Lead, Gleneagles Hospitals
Dr. Govini has rich experience in thoracic surgery and lung transplantation, having trained at some of the world’s best centers. He has a strong track record in post-transplant management and is known for his meticulous surgical technique.
Hospital: Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Chennai
4. Dr. Arvind Kumar – Consultant Hemato-Oncologist, Manipal Hospital
Though known for his contributions in hemato-oncology, Dr. Arvind Kumar is also a key name in pulmonary surgeries. His work in thoracic oncology and interventional lung surgery adds significant value to complex transplant cases.
Hospital: Manipal Hospital, Delhi
5. Dr. K R Balakrishnan – Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, MGM Healthcare
Dr. Balakrishnan is a veteran in the field of cardiac and thoracic surgeries, having performed numerous lung and heart transplants. He is highly respected for his patient-first approach and post-transplant care excellence.
Hospital: MGM Healthcare, Chennai
Best Hospitals for Lung Transplant Surgery in India
India hosts some of the top-ranked hospitals for thoracic surgery and lung transplantation:
- Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram
- KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad
- Gleneagles Global Hospital, Chennai
- MGM Healthcare, Chennai
- Manipal Hospital, Delhi
Each hospital is equipped with the latest surgical tools, 24×7 transplant ICUs, and multi-disciplinary transplant teams.
Success Stories with Medserg
At Medserg, we’ve had the honor of assisting numerous international patients with successful lung transplants in India. One of our recent success stories includes a 52-year-old patient from Kenya who was suffering from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. With our seamless coordination between the patient, family, and the surgical team at KIMS Hyderabad, the transplant was conducted successfully, and the patient was discharged within 20 days post-surgery.
Another inspiring case involved a 19-year-old girl from Bangladesh with cystic fibrosis who underwent a double-lung transplant at MGM Healthcare, Chennai. Today, she leads a normal life, pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse.
Medserg ensures complete support from the moment of first consultation to post-operative care, including visa assistance, appointment scheduling, interpreter support, and accommodation planning.
