'Insurance gaps deny arthritis patients access to robotic surgery'

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) has urged insurance companies to ensure equitable coverage for robotic-assisted joint replacement surgeries, highlighting the growing burden of arthritis and limited patient access to advanced treatment options in India.

- Amit Srivastava

While nearly 60 million Indians suffer from arthritis, experts estimate that only 10% to 15% undergo joint replacement surgery using the latest robotic techniques, despite its proven benefits in precision, faster recovery, and long-term outcomes.

Though the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in 2019 directed insurers to include modern treatments in their plans, coverage for robotic-assisted procedures still vary widely. Sub-limits and caps often force patients to opt for conventional surgeries or delay treatment due to affordability concerns.