Senior Director, Joint Replacement Programme, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
Part 9 of 9 in Diagnosis & Management of Degenerative Joint Disease
The Real Cost of Total Knee Replacement in India
September 6, 2026
For doctors referring patients across borders, cost is often the deciding question, and Dr. Ishwar Bohra addressed it directly when asked during his Jivo Healthcare masterclass what a total knee replacement actually costs in dollars.
The figure, and what it depends on
Dr. Bohra put the approximate cost of a total knee replacement in his own practice at around 7,000 to 7,500 US dollars, with the final figure depending on choices such as room category and other patient-specific selections. He framed India, and his own hospital specifically, as offering one of the most subsidised rates available anywhere in the world, well below equivalent surgery in the West and lower than the rest of Asia.
What that figure buys
That cost covers the same range of options described elsewhere in this series: conventional total knee replacement for stage four disease, and, where appropriate, robotic-assisted surgery aimed at the natural-feel and satisfaction gains Dr. Bohra discussed during the session. It also sits within a hospital equipped for the more complex revision and infection cases this series covers separately, meaning a patient referred for a straightforward replacement is being treated within a system that can also manage complications if they arise.
Referring a patient
Dr. Bohra told the doctors on the call that patients can be reviewed by video or online consultation before any decision to travel is made, and encouraged them to share patient details and reports with the Jivo Healthcare team so cases can be included in an upcoming consultation schedule.
This guide is based on a live Jivo Masterclass: Dr. Ishwar Bohra taught doctors across Africa on April 27, 2025.
FROM THE LIVE Q&A
Dr. Kobel
Is there a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and osteoarthritis?
Dr. Ishwar Bohra
Definitely, because vitamin D is essential in bone metabolism: it regulates the calcium, magnesium and phosphorus that are the key minerals of bone strength. If vitamin D is low, the subchondral bone that gives cartilage its strength becomes weak, so the cartilage starts to wear and the bone becomes soft and malaligned, which leads to arthritis. This is a major contributory factor that often isn't picked up clinically, so once a patient is diagnosed with hypovitaminosis D, it should be corrected immediately to avoid future complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is total knee replacement indicated for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?▼
Hip replacement can be done even after 13 to 14 years of age, but knee replacement has to wait until 18, because the longevity of implants in children is not very good and outcomes are worse than with hip replacement. If a child is severely affected, knee replacement can be considered after age 16 to 18; before that, an alternative non-replacement approach, such as bracing, is used to manage the pain.
Is there any risk of malignant transformation in a patient with a malunited tibia fracture of more than 10 years' duration without treatment?▼
No, a malunited fracture carries no risk of malignant transformation.
What is the total cost of doing a total knee replacement, in dollars?▼
Approximate cost in my own practice runs around 7,000 to 7,500 US dollars, depending on the patient's room selection and other choices. India, and our hospital specifically, offers one of the most subsidised rates in the world compared with the West and the rest of Asia.
Is there a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and osteoarthritis?▼
Definitely, because vitamin D is essential in bone metabolism: it regulates the calcium, magnesium and phosphorus that are the key minerals of bone strength. If vitamin D is low, the subchondral bone that gives cartilage its strength becomes weak, so the cartilage starts to wear and the bone becomes soft and malaligned, which leads to arthritis. This is a major contributory factor that often isn't picked up clinically, so once a patient is diagnosed with hypovitaminosis D, it should be corrected immediately to avoid future complications.
How much does total knee replacement cost in India?▼
Dr. Bohra put the approximate cost in his own practice at around 7,000 to 7,500 US dollars, depending on room category and other patient-specific choices.
How does the cost compare with the West?▼
Dr. Bohra described India, and his hospital specifically, as offering one of the most subsidised rates in the world, well below the West and lower than the rest of Asia.
How can a referring doctor start the process?▼
By sharing the patient's details and reports with the Jivo Healthcare team, after which the patient can be reviewed by video or online consultation before any decision to travel.
In This Series: Diagnosis & Management of Degenerative Joint Disease
- 1.Diagnosis and Management of Degenerative Joint Disease
- 2.Degenerative Joint Disease: Risk Factors and How to Diagnose It in Clinic
- 3.Managing Early Osteoarthritis Without Surgery: Lifestyle, Bracing and Medication
- 4.High Tibial Osteotomy and Partial Knee Replacement: Preserving the Joint Before Full Replacement
- 5.Total Knee Replacement for Advanced Osteoarthritis: Indications and Long-Term Survival
- 6.Robotic Joint Replacement: Closing the Gap Between a Working Knee and a Happy Patient
- 7.Complex and Infected Joint Replacement Cases: What a Revision Surgery Actually Involves
- 8.Beyond the Knee: Hip, Shoulder and Elbow Replacement in Degenerative Joint Disease
- 9.The Real Cost of Total Knee Replacement in India