Good cost estimates depend on good sources. This page sets out the kinds of information we draw on to research medical procedure costs in India, and the limitations of each, so you can weigh our figures with full transparency.
The sources we draw on
Published hospital and clinic pricing
Many hospitals and clinics publish package prices or rate cards for common procedures. Where this information is publicly available, we record it as a direct indicator of private-sector pricing.
Government scheme rate cards
Government health schemes set defined package rates for procedures. Rates published under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) give us a reference point for what a procedure costs when delivered under a scheme, which is often well below open private pricing.
Government and public hospital tariffs
Public and government hospitals publish or notify tariffs for procedures and diagnostic tests. These help us establish the realistic lower end of the cost range for patients who use the public system.
Diagnostic chain pricing
For scans and tests such as MRI, CT, and pathology work, large diagnostic chains publish city-wise pricing. We use this to build accurate ranges for diagnostic procedures, which vary widely between cities and between individual centres.
Patient-reported costs
Real bills and patient-reported figures, drawn from public discussions and first-hand accounts, help us sense-check published prices against what people actually pay, including the costs that rate cards often leave out.
Insurance and claim patterns
Typical insured-treatment cost bands, and what health policies commonly cover, inform the insurance guidance in each procedure guide.
The limits of cost data
No cost source is perfect, and we do not pretend otherwise. Published rate cards may exclude consumables, medication, or room charges. Patient-reported figures reflect specific cases and may not generalise. Government scheme rates apply only to eligible patients at empanelled facilities. We account for these limitations by publishing ranges rather than single figures, by separating costs into their components, and by stating clearly what a given estimate does and does not include.
Help us stay accurate
If you have a recent hospital bill or estimate that differs from a figure on our site, we would like to hear about it. Accurate, current information from real patients makes our research better. You can reach us through our contact page. To understand how we turn these sources into the estimates you see, read our research methodology.