Pune: In Light of Increasing GBS Cases, Mohol Shares Important Decisions, Including Free Treatment
Pune, January 26, 2025: Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, and Member of Parliament from Pune, announced crucial measures to address the rising cases of ‘Guillian-Barré Syndrome’ (GBS) in the city.
These decisions were taken after consultations with Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale to provide relief and medical support to patients.
- Free Treatment at Kamala Nehru Hospital: GBS patients undergoing treatment at Pune Municipal Corporation’s Kamala Nehru Hospital will receive free medical care.
- Financial Assistance for Private Hospital Treatments: Under the ‘Shahri Garib’ scheme, the Pune Municipal Corporation will provide medical financial assistance of up to ₹2 lakh for GBS patients receiving treatment in private hospitals.
- Free Immunoglobulin Injections: The Municipal Corporation will ensure free availability of ‘Immunoglobulin’ injections for GBS patients, including those treated at private hospitals and Kamala Nehru Hospital.
These measures aim to provide timely and affordable healthcare to GBS patients in Pune and reduce their financial burden.
Understanding the High Costs of GBS Treatment
Two Types of GBS Treatment:
GBS patients typically undergo one of two treatments:
- Plasma Therapy: This involves removing contaminated plasma from the patient’s body and replacing it. The cost of this procedure ranges from ₹3–3.5 lakh.
- IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin) Treatment: Patients are administered immunoglobulin injections, with each injection costing ₹20,000–₹25,000. For an average-weight patient (60 kg), 5–6 injections are required daily, bringing the total treatment cost to ₹4–5 lakh.
Breakdown of Treatment Costs:
- Medicines (Plasma or IVIG): ₹3.5–4 lakh
- ICU Stay (5 days): ₹50,000
- Ventilator Support (5 days): ₹50,000
Total: ₹4.5–5 lakh
In smaller hospitals, ICU and ventilator support costs are approximately ₹10,000 each per day, totaling ₹1 lakh for a 5-day stay. In medium-sized hospitals, this cost rises to ₹2 lakh, while in larger hospitals, it can exceed ₹5 lakh.
These figures highlight the significant financial burden of GBS treatment, underscoring the importance of financial assistance programs for patients.
