Cost of COVID-19 treatment: An estimate

Even as cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across the globe, here is a general estimate of how much the treatment costs.

The very first expenditure is the testing kit.

It comes at around Rs 4,500 which is a subsidized amount by the Indian government.

However, it is free for people with an Ayushman Bharat card.

Treating a non-critical COVID-19 patient – without ventilators, an ICU – costs an estimated Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per day.

An average patient is kept in the hospital for 14 days.

This is the mandated quarantine period.

An estimated cost of this hospital stay can range between Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh.

If the patient is kept under ventilation, there is additional cost of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per day.

A doctor treating COVID-19 patients will have to change his/her protection equipment frequently costing another Rs 750 to Rs 1000 added per kit.

And after a patient recovers fully, medicines for another Rs 1,000 are needed.

Moreover, there are other contingency expenditures like room rent, food, cost of ambulance etc.