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CION Cancer Clinics
Prosthetic limbs in India: options and cost | CION Cancer Clinics
A prosthetic leg in India can cost nothing through a government scheme or charity, or many times more for an imported limb with a computer-controlled knee. The level of amputation, the parts and your cover decide the figure. The first limb is rarely the last. This page explains the types of limb, what moves the price, the costs that follow and how families get help. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- How much does a prosthetic leg cost in India?
- What types of prosthetic limb are there?
- What makes one limb cost more than another?
- What costs come after the first limb?
- How do families get a limb through a scheme or charity?
- What do families believe about artificial limbs?
- What should you ask a prosthetist before agreeing to a limb?
- Common questions about prosthetic limbs and cost
The short answer
How much does a prosthetic leg cost in India?
The cost of a prosthetic leg in India ranges very widely, from limbs given free through government schemes and charities, to imported limbs with computer-controlled knees that cost many times more. What you pay depends on the level of the amputation, the parts chosen and whether a scheme covers you.
Why this page does not give you a price
Prosthetic prices change with the parts, the maker, the city and the prosthetist's fitting and training charges. A figure on a web page would be out of date quickly and would not match your leg. What this page can do is explain what drives the cost, what comes after the first limb, and how families get help. Ask for a written, itemised estimate from any prosthetist before you agree to a limb.
The cost families do not plan for
The first limb is rarely the last. The stump shrinks in the months after surgery, so the socket often has to be changed early. Feet, liners and knees wear out. Children outgrow limbs as they grow. Over a lifetime these replacements usually cost more than the first limb.
Nothing on this page is a quote. Costs are indicative as of 2026 and vary by prosthetist and region.The options
What types of prosthetic limb are there?
These are broad groups. Within each there are many makes and parts, and the right one depends on your body and your life.
Basic below-knee limbs
A socket, a simple shin and a durable rubber foot. Often locally made, light on maintenance and suited to walking on uneven ground, sitting cross-legged and squatting.
Often supplied by
- Government scheme camps
- Charitable limb centres
Modular limbs
A limb built from separate parts on a metal or carbon tube, so the foot, knee or socket can be changed without replacing everything. It is easier to adjust as the stump changes.
Above-knee limbs
They need an artificial knee as well as a foot, which adds cost and takes longer to learn.
Knee types range from
- Simple locking knees for stability
- Mechanical knees that swing freely
- Microprocessor knees, the most expensive
Upper-limb prostheses
From cosmetic hands that restore appearance, to body-powered hooks moved by a shoulder harness, to electric hands driven by muscle signals, which cost the most.
Many people use one type for work and another for social life.What moves the price
What makes one limb cost more than another?
What changes
How it affects the cost
The level of the amputation
Above-knee and hip levels need a knee and more parts
The foot and knee chosen
Energy-storing feet and microprocessor knees cost far more
Socket material and liner
Silicone liners and custom sockets add to the price and need replacing
Imported or locally made parts
Imported parts usually cost more and take longer to repair
Fitting visits and gait training
Sometimes included, sometimes charged separately. Ask
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After the first limb
What costs come after the first limb?
Planning only for the first limb is the most common money mistake families make after an amputation. Ask about the next few years, not only the first fitting.
A second socket, sooner than you expect
After a cancer amputation, the stump keeps shrinking for months, especially during and after chemotherapy. The first socket often becomes loose. Some centres fit a temporary limb first for this reason, and make the final socket once the size is steady.
Wear, repairs and replacements
Feet, liners, straps and knee parts wear with use, faster with heavy work, long walking or farm work. Sockets need changing if you gain or lose weight. A whole limb is eventually replaced. Ask the prosthetist what usually needs replacing first and how often, and whether a scheme will cover replacements.
Children and growing limbs
A child's limb has to be lengthened or remade as they grow, often many times through childhood. Families should ask early which scheme or charity will support replacements, not only the first limb.
Travel and time off work
Fitting and training take several visits. For families from Telangana districts, travel, a companion's lost wages and stays in the city add up. Ask whether visits can be grouped together.
Getting help
How do families get a limb through a scheme or charity?
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Get the disability certificate
Apply for the disability certificate and the UDID card through your district's medical board or the online portal. Most schemes and charities ask for it. The social worker can help with the forms.
-
Check what your cover includes
Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and cashless insurers have different rules on artificial limbs. Some cover the limb, some only the operation. Ask for the answer in writing.
-
Look at the ADIP scheme
The central government's ADIP scheme, delivered through ALIMCO and partner organisations, supplies assistive devices, including artificial limbs, free or at a reduced cost to people within its income limits. Camps are held in districts.
-
Ask about charitable limb centres
Organisations such as the one behind the Jaipur Foot have long fitted limbs free of charge. Waiting times and the parts offered vary.
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Assessment, fitting and training
Whoever supplies the limb, you need measurement, fitting, adjustments and walking training. Make sure someone is responsible for follow-up.
Commonly believed
What do families believe about artificial limbs?
"The most expensive limb will make him walk the best."
A limb that suits the person's strength, stump, work and home usually matters more than price. An advanced knee may be hard to use for someone weak after chemotherapy, and costly to repair far from a city.
"A free limb is poor quality."
Many scheme and charity limbs are sturdy, easy to repair and well suited to Indian floors, footwear and sitting on the ground. Fit and training matter as much as the parts.
"We must buy the limb before leaving hospital."
The stump needs to heal and settle first. Buying a final limb too early often means paying again for a new socket. Ask when the right time is.
"Insurance never pays for an artificial limb."
Some policies and schemes do, often with conditions or a limit. Check your own cover before assuming either way.
Before you pay
What should you ask a prosthetist before agreeing to a limb?
- An itemised written estimate for each part
- Whether fitting visits and walking training are included
- What the warranty covers, and for how long
- Who repairs it, and how far away they are
- When the socket is likely to need changing
- Whether a simpler option would suit daily life as well
Questions we are asked
Common questions about prosthetic limbs and cost
Is a prosthetic leg covered by Aarogyasri?
The amputation for cancer is usually covered when it is part of an approved treatment plan. Whether the artificial limb itself is included depends on the package and the rules at the time. Call the helpline with your card details and we will help you check, and ask the social worker about other schemes for the limb.
Can I get a free artificial limb in Telangana?
Often yes, if you meet the conditions. The ADIP scheme supplies limbs free or at reduced cost to people within its income limits, and charitable limb centres fit limbs free. You will usually need a disability certificate. Ask the social worker which options are running near your district.
How soon after surgery can I get a limb?
Not until the wound has healed and the swelling has settled. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy can delay this. Some people get a temporary limb first while the stump is still shrinking. Your surgical team and prosthetist decide the timing together.
How long does a prosthetic leg last?
It depends on how much you walk, your work, your weight and the parts. Feet and liners usually wear first, and sockets need changing when the stump changes shape. Children need new limbs as they grow. Ask your prosthetist what to expect for your limb.
Is a microprocessor knee worth the extra cost?
For some active adults it improves safety on slopes and stairs. For others a mechanical knee works just as well at far lower cost. It needs charging, careful handling and repairs that may not be available locally. Try to walk on one before deciding, and ask whether a simpler knee would suit you.
Does CGHS or ECHS pay for an artificial limb?
These schemes have rules for artificial limbs, usually with approved suppliers, conditions and limits. The rules change, so check with your scheme office before ordering a limb, and keep every estimate and bill. Our helpline can help you understand what paperwork is needed.
What does a disability certificate help with?
It is needed for most government help, including the ADIP scheme, travel concessions, some tax benefits and job reservations. The UDID card is the national version. Apply once the level of disability is clear, and ask the social worker to help with the forms.
Can I get a cosmetic cover so the limb looks natural?
Yes. Foam or silicone covers can be shaped and coloured to look like the other limb. They add cost, can wear and tear, and may make repairs slower. Some people prefer an uncovered limb for work and a covered one for social occasions.
What moves the figure
What affects the cost
Four things change the total more than anything else.
The technique used
A shaped or image-guided delivery costs more than a conventional one, and is chosen on clinical grounds rather than preference.
How many sessions
The total is driven by the number of sittings or cycles, not by a single per-visit figure.
Supporting tests
Scans, blood work and pathology done alongside treatment are billed separately.
Your cover
Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS or cashless insurance usually change the out-of-pocket figure substantially.
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
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Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
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Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
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Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
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Sources
- NHS — Amputation
- NHS — Amputation: recovery
- American Cancer Society — Financial and insurance matters
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Bone cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Amputation Cost and Scheme Cover in HyderabadWhat the operation itself costs and what schemes coverDisability Certificate and Entitlements After AmputationThe document most limb schemes ask forGetting Fitted for a ProsthesisWhat the fitting visits involveCost, Insurance and Schemes for Cancer SurgeryHow surgery bills and claims work
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Need help planning for an artificial limb?
Tell us what surgery has been done or planned and what cover you hold. We will help you understand your options and reach the right specialist. One helpline serves every CION centre.