Last updated
Hip and Knee Replacement in India: Prices, Travel and How Poland Compares for UK Patients (2026)
India has the lowest headline prices for joint replacement: marketplace listings give $4,000 to $5,500 for a knee and $5,000 to $8,500 for a hip. The trade-offs are a flight of nearly nine hours, a visa, and a stay of about three weeks. Residents of Great Britain made an estimated 22,000 visits to India for medical treatment in 2024.
Key facts
- Marketplace listings give $4,000–$5,500 for a total knee replacement and $5,000–$8,500 for a total hip replacement in India (seen 7 October 2026); we found no price published by an Indian hospital itself.
- Listed packages exclude hotel accommodation and flights, and describe four to five days in hospital followed by 15 to 18 days in a hotel.
- A flight from London to Delhi takes about eight hours and 45 minutes.
- UK citizens need a visa to visit India; an e-Medical visa is available, and hospitals usually ask for an attendant to stay with the patient.
- At OrthoVoyage's partner hospital in Poland, about two hours from London, a knee replacement is €8,620 and a hip replacement €6,940.
Checked 8 October 2026
What is published for India
| Operation | Listed price | What the listing covers |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement, one knee | $4,000 – $4,500 at Delhi hospitals; marketplace range $5,000 – $5,500 | Consultation, tests, room, surgeon, theatre, anaesthesia, routine medicines, airport pick-up. Hotel and flights excluded |
| Total hip replacement, one hip | $5,000 – $5,800 at Delhi hospitals; marketplace range $5,500 – $8,500 | As above |
Seen 7 October 2026. These are marketplace listings, not hospital price lists, and several of the individual packages were marked as no longer available or carried expired validity dates. None of the listings names the implant. Treat the figures as a guide and ask the hospital for a current written quote that states the implant manufacturer and model.
What the trip involves
- Flight: about eight hours and 45 minutes from London to Delhi, just over nine hours to Mumbai.
- Visa: GOV.UK says you must have a visa to visit India; an e-Medical visa is available to UK citizens.
- Time away: four to five days in hospital and a further 15 to 18 days in a hotel, on the listings we saw.
- A companion: the Foreign Office notes that hospitals in India usually ask for a guardian or attendant to stay with the patient.
- Season: the Foreign Office warns of severe air pollution in parts of India from October to February.
- Funding and cover: the NHS says neither the S2 route nor the EU directive route applies to treatment outside Europe, and a GHIC does not cover planned treatment.
GOV.UK also warns that air travel after major surgery increases the risk of a blood clot. On a nine-hour flight that matters more than on a short one, so the timing of your return is a decision for your surgeon.
India or Poland?
| India (marketplace listings) | Poland (OrthoVoyage partner hospital) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | $4,000 – $5,500 | €8,620, about £7,420 |
| Total hip replacement | $5,000 – $8,500 | €6,940, about £5,970 |
| Flight from London | about 8 h 45 min | about two hours |
| Visa | required | not required for short stays |
| Typical time away | about three weeks | planned after the surgeon's review |
| Hotel | extra, 15–18 nights | extra, for the physiotherapy period |
| Follow-up visits | a long-haul trip each time | a short flight |
The Indian headline is not the bill. Add two long-haul return fares, about three weeks of hotel for two people and a visa, and the gap to a European quote narrows sharply. What remains is the distance: nearly nine hours in a seat soon after surgery, and a long-haul trip every time you need to see the surgeon again. Poland is two hours away, inside the EU, with the implant named in your written plan. Before you pay a deposit anywhere, get a Polish quote to set beside it — the assessment is free and takes a minute.
See orthopaedic surgery in Poland and our guide to whether surgery abroad is safe.
OrthoVoyage is a medical travel concierge, not a hospital, and does not give medical advice. We arrange surgery in Poland; the Indian figures here are published listings we do not control.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a knee replacement in India?
Marketplace listings give $4,000 to $5,500 for one knee (seen 7 October 2026), excluding hotel and flights. Ask the hospital for a current written quote that names the implant.
How long do I need to stay in India after a joint replacement?
About three weeks on the listings we saw: four to five days in hospital and 15 to 18 days in a hotel before flying home.
Do I need a visa for medical treatment in India?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must have a visa to visit India; an e-Medical visa is available to UK citizens through the Indian government's visa website.
Sources
- India travel advice — health — GOV.UK (FCDO)
- India travel advice — entry requirements — GOV.UK (FCDO)
- e-Visa — Government of India
- In hospital abroad — GOV.UK
- Going abroad for medical treatment — NHS
- Flights to Delhi — British Airways
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.
Related pages
Is Surgery Abroad Safe? Risks, NHS Rules and a Checklist for UK Patients
The real risks of surgery abroad, what the NHS says, warning signs to watch for, and a checklist to use before you book hip or knee surgery overseas.
Flying After a Hip or Knee Replacement: Blood Clots, Timing and Practical Tips
When can you fly after a hip or knee replacement? What UK guidance and research say about blood clots, short vs long-haul flights, and tips for the trip.
Knee Replacement in Poland: Cost, What's Included and How It Works for UK Patients (2026)
Knee replacement in Poland from €8,620 (about £7,420): price list by implant, what the package includes, what is extra, travel and how to check a hospital.
Which Country Is Cheapest for a Knee Replacement? An Honest Comparison
Knee replacement prices compared: UK private, Poland, Lithuania, Turkey and India — what each price really includes, and the traps in 'from' prices.