Thousands of patients and athletes visiting Safdarjung Hospital’s Sports Injury Centre (SIC) are set to get major relief, with the premier institute moving to provide implants at lower prices through a transparent rate-contract mechanism. The move is expected to significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for advanced sports injury surgeries, which often cost lakhs of rupees at private hospitals.
The Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital, functioning under Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC), is Delhi’s first dedicated super-specialty centre exclusively focused on sports medicine, arthroscopy and minimally invasive treatment of ligament and cartilage injuries. Unlike other hospitals where sports injuries are handled as part of orthopaedics, the SIC operates as a standalone centre of excellence and caters to elite athletes as well as the general public.
According to Prof. (Dr.) Deepak Joshi, Director of the Sports Injury Centre, more than 2,000 surgeries are performed annually, nearly 90 per cent of them through arthroscopic or “keyhole” procedures that require smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery. The centre routinely performs six categories of surgeries, including ACL and PCL ligament reconstructions, meniscus and cartilage repairs, shoulder surgeries for rotator cuff tears and recurrent dislocations, ankle arthroscopies, elbow procedures and hip arthroscopies. Advanced cartilage restoration and transplantation procedures are also carried out.
“The Sports Injury Centre does not undertake total knee or hip replacement surgeries, which are handled by the Orthopaedics Department. Our focus remains on ligament, cartilage and rotator cuff injuries commonly seen among athletes and physically active individuals,” Dr. Joshi said.
A senior doctor at the centre said that consultations, surgery, hospital admission, general ward beds and physiotherapy are provided free of cost under the hospital’s existing system. Patients currently bear the cost of implants and certain disposable items purchased from private vendors. Implant kits used in ACL reconstruction cost between ₹25,000 and ₹60,000 depending on the brand and specifications, while shoulder anchors cost ₹15,000 to ₹40,000. Diagnostic investigations, including MRI scans and blood tests conducted through PPP laboratories, are available at CGHS rates, substantially lower than those charged by private hospitals.
Patients covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) receive implants, consumables and diagnostic tests free of cost, making their entire treatment virtually cashless.
Dr. Joshi said the hospital administration has initiated a rate-contract system and floated tenders for procurement of implants. Once the process is completed, companies and vendors will supply implants under pre-approved rates, eliminating direct financial dealings between patients and private firms.
“Patients will deposit the charges with the hospital, ensuring transparency and bringing down costs considerably. The objective is to provide world-class treatment at the lowest possible cost,” he said.
The centre uses specialised implants such as interference screws, buttons and suture anchors for ligament reconstructions and repairs of shoulder, ankle and cartilage injuries. Titanium and biodegradable implants are routinely used in procedures involving rotator cuff tears, labral injuries and cartilage restoration.
The initiative is expected to provide a stark contrast to the costs incurred in private hospitals, where knee-related procedures and implants account for the bulk of treatment expenses. Depending on the city, hospital and type of implant used, patients often spend several lakhs on treatment, with imported implants significantly increasing the overall bill.
“With the rate-contract system in place, patients are expected to receive the same high-quality treatment at a fraction of the cost,” Dr. Joshi said, expressing hope that the new procurement mechanism would make advanced sports medicine care more affordable and accessible.
Speaking to Health On Air, Subash (39), who underwent major surgery at the Sports Injury Centre (SIC), said he had suffered a serious road accident on March 30 that ruptured the ligaments in his left leg, leaving him unable to walk or even sit comfortably.
Subash, road accident survivor
“I was in a very bad condition after the accident. Doctors at the SIC performed three surgeries in a single sitting, and now I am at least able to walk again. I was covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Had I not received government support, my family would have been pushed into financial ruin,” he said.
Assistant Professor Dr Pankaj Kumar Verma of the Sports Injury Centre said the state-of-the-art facility at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital was established to provide comprehensive surgical, diagnostic and rehabilitative services under one roof for patients suffering from sports-related and joint disorders.
“The SIC is equipped with advanced rehabilitation facilities, including water-based exercise systems that accelerate recovery and help relax muscles. It also has a high-tech gym with specialised equipment for individual muscle strengthening and an underwater treadmill that helps reduce swelling while improving strength and flexibility. The isokinetic testing system enables doctors to closely monitor patients’ progress,” Dr Verma said.
He added that the centre brings together multiple specialists under one roof, including sports medicine experts, orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthetists and physiotherapists, to provide comprehensive care to injured sportspersons and patients with complex joint injuries.
Bakht Gaur Das (38), a spiritual leader from Mathura who underwent treatment at the centre, said he had searched extensively for treatment options before being referred to the SIC.
Bakht Gaur Das, a spiritual leader from Mathura
“After exploring several hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, I was advised to come to the Sports Injury Centre. It is a marvellous place for the treatment of all kinds of injuries. I underwent surgery here and am recovering well,” he said.
