Costly Parkinson's Breakthrough Sparks Hope

As India grows older and neurological disorders become more common, a promising new treatment for Parkinson's disease is generating fresh optimism. Yet for many families, the biggest question is not whether the technology works, but whether they will ever be able to afford it.

Motion-related disorders like Parkinson's disease and uncontrollable tremor affect far more than a person's ability to control movement. They often rob people of their independence, forcing many to give up work, rely on family members for everyday tasks and withdraw from social life and most of all dignity. Though medicines remain the first line of treatment for most, some patients continue to experience disabling tremors and stiffness despite years of treatment.

In this case, neurologists are recommending Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), a treatment that uses focused sound waves, guided by real-time MRI scans, to target small areas deep in the brain that cause unusual movements. Because no surgical cuts, implanted electrodes or radiation are involved, many patients can return home quickly after treatment. The technology has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for carefully selected patients with specific movement disorders.

However, specialists caution that the treatment is not suitable for everyone and should never be viewed as a replacement for medicines or comprehensive neurological care.

Very Costly

Its biggest obstacle in India is affordability. The cost of a single MRgFUS procedure typically ranges from ₹18 lakh to ₹30 lakh, depending on the hospital, imaging requirements and the nature of treatment. For most middle-class Indian households, that price is beyond reach. The procedure is available only at a limited number of advanced hospitals, while travel, accommodation and follow-up expenses add further financial strain. Most health insurance policies do not routinely cover MRgFUS for Parkinson's disease, and government-funded schemes have yet to include it as a standard reimbursable treatment.

Patient Access Problem

This gap between technological progress and patient access is increasingly becoming a concern for public health experts.

Recent research published in journals including The Lancet Neurology and JAMA Neurology has highlighted that Parkinson's disease is rising globally as populations age. India is expected to witness a substantial increase in the number of people living with the condition in the coming decades, placing growing pressure on families and healthcare services.

Experts argue that sophisticated technology alone cannot solve this challenge.

Most long-term care in India is provided by spouses and adult children, many of whom receive little formal training while coping with emotional stress, lost income and mounting medical expenses. Studies have consistently shown high levels of carer burnout, anxiety and depression among families caring for Parkinson's patients.

Need for Wider Approach

Public health experts suggest a wider approach that includes early diagnosis, affordable medicines, physiotherapy, speech therapy, local rehabilitation services, tele-neurology for areas with less access, training for carers, and better financial support through public health insurance. Advanced procedures such as MRgFUS, they say, should complement—not replace—these essential services.

Patient awareness programmes planned in several Indian cities this month aim to familiarise patients and caregivers with emerging treatment options and allow them to interact directly with neurologists and neurosurgeons. Clinicians believe better information can help patients make informed decisions, provided expectations remain realistic about both the benefits and the limitations of newer therapies.

MRgFUS represents an important scientific advance for carefully selected patients. But unless affordability, insurance coverage and equitable access improve, many experts believe its greatest promise may remain beyond the reach of the very people who could benefit most.

The writer is a Delhi-based freelancer who writes on health issues and medical discoveries.