Step-by-Step Guide: Traveling from Nigeria to India for Bone Marrow Transplant (2025)

If you or a loved one in Nigeria needs a bone marrow transplant, India is one of the most trusted and affordable destinations for treatment. But how do you go from a medical diagnosis in Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt to successful surgery in Delhi or Chennai?

This guide walks you through each step of the journey—from getting a second opinion to arriving back home, healthy and hopeful.

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Step 1: Get a Medical Review from Indian Specialists

Before making any travel plans, the first step is to get your medical reports reviewed by a transplant expert in India.

What you need:

• Diagnosis report (e.g., sickle cell, leukemia, thalassemia)
• Blood work and imaging (e.g., CBC, HLA typing, bone marrow biopsy)
• Doctor’s notes and treatment history

How to send:

Use WhatsApp or email to share these securely with Surgery Assistance. We coordinate with top hospitals and get back to you in 24–48 hours with treatment options, eligibility, and an estimated cost.

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Step 2: Apply for an Indian Medical Visa

Once you receive a confirmation from the hospital, you’ll need to apply for a Medical Visa.

Documents required:

• Valid Nigerian passport
• Hospital appointment/doctor’s letter from India
• Recent passport-sized photo
• Proof of funds

Key points:

• Visa is issued to the patient and one attendant.
• It’s valid for up to 6 months.
• We will help you with visa renewals during treatment.
• We will guide you at every step of the visa application process starting from the visa invitation letter (VIL).

Need help? Our team offers visa assistance and issues an invitation letter from the hospital.

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Step 3: Finalize the Hospital and Treatment Plan

Once your visa is approved, we help finalize:

• Hospital admission date.
• Treating Doctor’s appointments.
• Accommodation near the hospital (for attendants).
• Any required pre-transplant work up (included in the package)

We recommend:

• BLK-Max Hospital (Delhi)
• Manipal Hospitals Bangalore
• HCG hospital
• Apollo Hospital (Chennai, Delhi)
• Fortis Memorial (Gurgaon)

These hospitals are trusted by African families and equipped with high-end bone marrow transplant units.

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Step 4: Arrival in India and Airport Pickup

Upon arrival, Surgery Assistance arranges:

• Airport pickup (included in most treatment packages)
• SIM card for local communication
• Hospital admission

We also help translate, explain the local healthcare process, and assign a dedicated care coordinator to every patient.

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Step 5: Undergo Tests and Prepare for Transplant

You’ll undergo several pre-transplant evaluations:

• Infectious disease screening
• HLA typing and donor matching
• Conditioning (chemotherapy or radiation)

If you have a matched family donor, they will be prepared in parallel. If not, the hospital may help source a donor from Indian or an international registry.

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Step 6: Bone Marrow Transplant Procedure

The transplant is performed in a sterile BMT unit. Recovery is closely monitored.

Hospital stay: ~4 weeks

Post-discharge monitoring: ~2–3 weeks

In total, Nigerian patients typically spend 6–8 weeks in India for the full process.

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Step 7: Discharge, Recovery, and Return to Nigeria

After discharge:

• You’ll receive detailed medication instructions
• Attend 2–3 follow-up checkups
• Be monitored for graft success and infections

Once the doctor approves travel, we help plan your return to Nigeria, including:

• Medical fit-to-fly certificate
• Flight booking assistance
• Continued online consultations from home

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Why Use Surgery Assistance?

• Free expert opinion from Indian doctors
• Visa and travel assistance
• Airport pickup and lodging coordination
• No extra fees – we work directly with hospitals

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Final Checklist for Nigerian Patients Traveling to India

Still have questions?

Reach out to our team at surgeryassistance.com and we’ll guide you every step of the way—from diagnosis to recovery.