Pune: Patients seeking treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in Pune and surrounding areas are facing exorbitant costs, with private hospitals charging significantly higher rates for essential medicines. The rising financial burden has sparked calls for government intervention to regulate treatment costs.
A patient from Sinhagad Road was recently admitted to a private hospital’s intensive care unit for GBS treatment. His family has already incurred ₹3 lakh in expenses, with the total projected cost reaching ₹10 lakh.
“Our insurance covers only ₹3 lakh, and we’re struggling to arrange the remaining ₹7 lakh. Medicines purchased from outside pharmacies are cheaper, but the hospital pharmacy charges the full printed price,” the patient’s relative shared.
In the past two weeks, 73 cases of GBS have been reported across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and rural areas, with numbers continuing to rise. Critical treatments like plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin therapy are unavailable in municipal hospitals, forcing 80–90% of patients to seek care in private facilities. Sassoon Hospital accommodates only a small percentage of these patients.
The immunoglobulin injection, a key component of GBS treatment, costs between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 per vial when purchased through private hospitals.
However, the same injection is available for as low as ₹8,000 at generic pharmacies, Sassoon Hospital’s medical store, and wholesale distributors. The higher prices charged by hospital pharmacies significantly inflate treatment costs for patients.
This situation echoes the COVID-19 pandemic when items like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab were sold at inflated prices until state-imposed price caps brought some relief. Patients and advocates are now urging the government to introduce similar regulations for GBS treatment to curb excessive costs.
“The ‘Urban Poor’ scheme provides up to ₹2 lakh in treatment assistance for eligible patients. For those not covered, we are exploring other ways to support them,” said Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation.
“Private hospitals add handling charges to medicines procured at wholesale rates. The government must ensure adequate availability of these medicines. Meanwhile, patients can save costs by purchasing injections from outside pharmacies,” stated Dr. Sanjay Patil, Chairman, Hospital Board of India, IMA.
