India experienced a significant 48% increase in medical tourists from Bangladesh in 2023, according to a report by Business Standard, an Indian newspaper. A total of 449,570 Bangladeshi nationals visited India in 2023, up from 304,067 in 2022.
Conversely, data from the Indian government indicates a decline in medical visas issued to Sri Lankans, with only 1,432 visas granted in 2023-24, reflecting an 11.7% drop from the previous year. Meanwhile, Myanmar citizens received 3,019 medical visas, a 4% increase, while Pakistanis were granted only 76 medical visas, down from 106 the previous year.
Bangladeshi patients often seek treatment for transplants, cardiac sciences, neurology, orthopedics, and oncology at Indian healthcare facilities. Max Healthcare, a private hospital chain, has representatives in Dhaka to assist these patients.
“We are not getting patients from Pakistan and Afghanistan due to political and security issues,” said Anas Abdul Wajid, Senior Director and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Max Healthcare. “The Indian government does not issue visas to patients from these countries. However, there has been a noticeable increase in patients from Nepal and Myanmar.”
The Financial Times’ investigation into illegal kidney transplants has made Indian authorities more cautious in issuing medical visas to Myanmar citizens, according to Wajid. He also mentioned a temporary halt in medical visas from Bangladesh during the general elections, leading to substantial waiting times due to high demand.
Max Healthcare saw a 22% growth in international business last financial year. Indian hospital authorities attribute the surge in Bangladeshi medical tourists to cultural and linguistic affinities with eastern India, geographical proximity, and comprehensive medical packages offered by private hospitals.
Santy Sajan, Group Chief Operating Officer at Paras Health, noted that the increase in Bangladeshi patients is also due to better connectivity and the range of services offered by Indian hospitals.
West Bengal, in particular, has seen a 10% rise in Bangladeshi patients post-pandemic, facilitated by efficient transport links and shared cultural ties, said Sombrata Roy, Unit Head at Calcutta Medical Research Institute.
The rise in medical tourists has also led to increased air connectivity. Air India expanded its services between Bangladesh and India from three weekly flights in June 2023 to 14 per week. IndiGo and Vistara also operate 35 and 11 weekly flights on these routes, respectively. An Air India executive mentioned that demand is so high that even widebody planes would be fully booked.
To further support medical tourism, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 22 June the introduction of an e-medical visa facility for Bangladeshis. This was following his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her two-day state visit to India. Additionally, India plans to open a new Assistant High Commission in Rangpur to serve the people of northwest Bangladesh.