Dr. Chetan Kalal, DM (Hepatology) Medical Hepatology & Liver Transplant Medicine — Mumbai, India | Global Virtual Consultations

Dr. Chetan Kalal, DM (Hepatology)

Medical Hepatology & Liver Transplant Medicine — Mumbai, India | Global Virtual Consultations

The Difference Between a Surgeon and a Hepatologist

Most "liver transplant specialists" are surgeons. They operate. They leave.

Dr. Kalal is a DM Hepatologist. He manages your liver disease medically, determines if you actually need a transplant, optimizes your condition pre-operatively, and oversees your immunosuppression and long-term care post-transplant. This is the difference between a one-time procedure and a 20-year survival strategy.

First DM Hepatologist of Maharashtra. Trained at the country's premier institute. This isn't a title — it's a guarantee that your care is managed by someone who understands liver disease as a continuum, not just a surgical event.

What Patients Actually Come Here For

1. Transplant Candidacy Assessment — "Do I Actually Need This?" Not every cirrhotic patient needs a transplant. Not every elevated MELD score is actionable. Dr. Kalal provides:

• Objective transplant candidacy evaluation using MELD-Na, Child-Pugh, and portal hemodynamics

• Alternative pathway planning if you're not a candidate (TIPS, BRTO, medical optimization)

• Honest contraindication screening — if transplant won't help, you'll know why

2. Second Opinion — "My Doctor Said Wait. I Can't Afford To."

• Complex decompensated cirrhosis with "unclear" prognosis

• Post-transplant complications mismanaged by primary team

• Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) requiring adjudication

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) — resection vs. transplant vs. locoregional therapy

3. Virtual Consultations — For Patients in the US, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, Singapore

• Pre-transplant evaluation for NRI patients considering surgery in India

• Post-transplant follow-up for patients who had surgery in India but live abroad

• Medication reconciliation — immunosuppression protocols, drug interactions, rejection surveillance

• Turnaround: 48-72 hours for non-urgent cases. Same-day for acute decompensation.

4. IPD Expert Management — Mumbai Direct admission for:

• Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)

• Refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome

• Variceal bleeding management

• Encephalopathy refractory to standard care

Clinical Transparency — What the Data Actually Says

Liver Transplant in India: The Real Numbers

• Cost: $22,000–$45,000 USD (vs. $550,000–$878,000 in the US) 
• One-year survival at top centers: 85–90% (comparable to US/Europe) 
• Annual volume in India: 4500+ transplants 
• Living donor requirement: First-degree relative only (parent, child, sibling, spouse with legal proof) 

What this means for you: If you're an international patient, you cannot get a deceased donor liver in India. You need a living donor. Dr. Kalal will tell you upfront if your donor is medically suitable and if your case is viable — before you spend money on travel.

Geographic Coverage — Mumbai & Western Suburbs

Primary Practice: South Mumbai, Worli, Dadar, Lower Parel, Pali Hill (Bandra) Extended Consultations: Bandra, Khar, Juhu, Andheri, Kandivali, Borivali, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Vasai

Why Patients Choose Dr. Kalal Over "Top 10" Surgeons

The Clinical Stance

"I've seen patients fly from London with a MELD score of 12 who were told they 'need a transplant immediately.' I've seen patients with MELD 28 who were medically optimizable and never needed surgery. The difference isn't the number — it's who's reading it. My job is to tell you exactly where you are, what your real options are, and what happens if you do nothing."

How to Book

Website: drchetankalal.com
Virtual Consult: Upload imaging + labs + prior notes → Structured assessment within 72 hours
IPD Admission: Direct referral for acute decompensation
Second Opinion: Full case review with written directive

Dr. Chetan Kalal
DM Hepatology | Liver Transplant Medicine
Mumbai, India | Global Virtual Consultations