New Delhi: Several hospitals in Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi, which used to see a heavy rush of medical tourists from Bangladesh before it was hit by political unrest this year, may be suffering quietly.

Industry estimates show that nearly 2 million or 20 lakh international patients visit India every year for various medical treatments and procedures, and of these nearly 60 percent are from Bangladesh.

But since late August, the number of patients from the neighbouring country has gone down by a whopping 80 percent, insiders in India’s medical travel industry said, mainly on account of India imposing restrictions on visas to Bangladesh nationals and the changing diplomatic dynamics between the two.

According to data from the Bureau of Immigration of the Indian government, nearly 6,35,000 medical tourists visited India in 2023—an uptick from 4,75,000 in 2022.

Around 3,00,000-3,50,000 of the total medical tourists in 2023 were from Bangladesh. The actual number of medical tourists in the country is way higher—nearly 20 lakh—as many of them travel to India on tourist visas and seek treatment here as medical visas are more expensive.

Some of the hospitals severely impacted by the crisis in Bangladesh include Narayana Health in Bengaluru, Apollo Hospital in Chennai and Christian Medical College in Vellore, apart from multiple hospitals in Kolkata, said Dr Alexander Thomas, founder and patron of Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), the largest network of private health facilities.

The specialties for which patients from Bangladesh usually visit Indian hospitals are cardiology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology and neurosurgery, among others.

Sources in the hospital and medical tourism industries said that a large number of Bangladeshi patients, who have been facing hurdles in securing visas to India are either deferring their travel plans or opting for other destinations.

“Such patients are mostly turning to countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey,” Ahmed Danish, vice president of METRA (Medical Travel Representative Association) told ThePrint.

He added that even some private hospitals in Pakistan, which is not on the global medical tourism radar, have established reach-out initiatives for patients struggling to access treatment in India.

The Ministry of External Affairs refused to comment on the matter when approached by ThePrint, but sources in the ministry said that while India continues to give medical, emergency and student visas, the numbers have been impacted due to the situation in Bangladesh, such as people finding it difficult to access visa application centres.

Also, the number of Indian diplomats in Bangladesh has reduced due to the security situation, which has also affected the number of visas issued. When the situation in the neighbouring country stabilises, all operations will return to normal, sources added.

Kolkata hospitals worst hit

Many hospitals in the capital city of West Bengal said that they have been feeling the pinch as the number of Bangladeshi patients—their only international patients—has dwindled over the last several weeks.

“We used to get nearly 150 Bangladeshi patients every day in our outpatient department earlier, which has come down to less than 30, while the number of admitted-patients from Bangladesh is nearly zero these days,” Dr Sudipta Mitra, chief executive officer of Peerless Hospital, a 500-bed multi-speciality facility, told ThePrint.

Patients from Bangladesh come to his hospital and other centres in the city for even minor procedures, such as cataract surgery, apart from major surgical operations due to availability of quality service at affordable rates, besides familiarity in terms of language.

“We are now getting feedback that some patients who manage to get visas are avoiding coming to India due to hostilities between the two nations,” Dr Mitra said.

Shaoli Dutta, director of Kolkata-based Desun Hospitals Group, said that it has consistently welcomed a significant number of Bangladeshi patients, who trust the establishment for its “advanced medical care and compassionate services”.

Earlier, on average, around 900-1,000 Bangladeshi patients used to visit the hospital each month for various treatments, including cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology and nephrology services, she said.

“However, the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh has led to a noticeable decline in patient inflow, with the current numbers dropping by approximately 70 percent. Travel restrictions, visa processing delays, and safety concerns have emerged as major challenges for patients seeking medical attention.”

Lower treatment costs in Indian hospitals

Medical procedures are up to 50-60 percent more expensive in east Asian countries, METRA’s Danish said, but people from Bangladesh in need of treatment are forced to opt for these nations.

In countries like Singapore—another highly preferred destination for medical tourists globally—the procedures can cost up to 80-100 percent more compared to India. Turkey, where the cost of medical services is at par with India, is its close competitor in the sector.

Turkey has been offering incentives, such as cash support of $1000, to all medical tourists arriving in the country, Danish said. “This offer is being marketed aggressively now in Bangladesh.”

He added that several Indian hospitals, which see a large number of international patients, have been experiencing a decline of 60-80 percent in the footfall over the last 3-4 months.

Others in the industry also agreed. “The unrest in Bangladesh has undoubtedly affected the flow of patients seeking treatment in India. This has caused short-term disruptions across the industry, impacting healthcare providers and associated services,” said Ishaan Dodhiwala, co-founder of Medijourn, which facilitates international patients with access to treatment in India.

Although some doctors in hospitals, like Bengaluru’s Narayana Health and Chennai’s Apollo Hospital confirmed the current trends, the centres refused to offer an official comment on the matter, saying that it involves the foreign policy of the Indian government.

India in the global medical tourism market

India was ranked 10th out of the top 46 countries on the Medical Tourism Index 2020-21 by the Medical Tourism Association. But industry insiders maintain that the country stands at third or fourth position globally in terms of drawing the maximum number of foreigners every year for medical reasons.

In 2024, India’s medical tourism industry is valued at over $10,000 million, making it one of the biggest globally.

There are nearly 70 countries from where patients come to India to seek treatment, but it draws the largest numbers from 44 countries, which include SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations, and countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Patients from developed countries, on the other hand, mostly come to India to seek wellness treatment involving Ayurveda. The country’s dominance in the global medical tourism market, with its world-class healthcare facilities, exceptional medical expertise and traditional hospitality, is well recognised, they say.

India, for instance, has more than 40 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), and nearly 1,435 hospitals with more than 50 beds are accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). These accreditations are seen as a hallmark of quality service and patient safety.