What Makes India A Popular Medical Tourism Destination For Bangladeshi Patients?

27 August,2024

Over the last few years, medical tourism in India has shown an upward trend, with patients worldwide traveling to seek medical treatment. It is particularly popular amongst its neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, as well as nearby countries such as Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Mauritius, and the Maldives.

Bangladeshi patients make up almost 54% of the medical tourists visiting India, the highest percentage among all countries. In 2023 alone, 4,49,570 Bangladeshi patients arrived in India to seek medical treatment, a 48% rise from the previous year. The reasons for Bangladeshi patients choosing to travel abroad for medical treatment include high treatment costs, doctor shortage, longer waiting times, and lack of attentiveness from the doctors. On the other hand, India provides them with a viable solution to these issues with its robust healthcare facilities and qualified medical professionals. This blog explores in detail the reasons behind Bangladeshi patients traveling to India for medical treatment.

Why do Bangladeshi Patients Choose India for Medical Treatment?

India is a preferred choice for medical treatment among Bangladeshi patients for several healthcare-related reasons and other supporting factors. Some of these reasons are:

• High-Quality Healthcare Facilities: Indian medical services are highly developed and at par with international standards. Advanced treatment options and cutting-edge technology are also readily available. As a result, Bangladeshi patients prefer traveling to India to avail themselves of these superior healthcare facilities, which may be limited locally.
• Expert Medical Personnel: Indian doctors are proficient in their respective fields as they undergo exhaustive training during their education. Many of them also pursue superspecialization at renowned international institutions. Thus, they are well-equipped to deal with various medical conditions in specialties such as oncology, neurology, cardiology, and many others. Bangladeshi patients traveling to India for medical purposes are in the safest hands for treatment.
• Reasonable Treatment Costs: India is one of the best options for Bangladeshi patients when it comes to treatment costs. Everything from routine procedures to the latest treatments is reasonably priced. For example, the cost of angioplasty in India is just USD 2,100, whereas in the United States of America, it costs over USD 28,000. Therefore, Bangladeshi patients prefer coming to India rather than other Western countries.
• Hospital Accreditation: Indian hospitals maintain high standards by adhering to strict guidelines set by accreditation bodies such as the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH). There are 55 JCI-accredited and over 1,300 NABH-accredited hospitals in India. Bangladeshi patients can consider these statistics when choosing a hospital for treatment.
• State-of-the-art Infrastructure: In India, hospitals are equipped with routine diagnostic and treatment options such as X-rays and modern facilities such as minimally invasive and robotic surgery. Moreover, treatments across multiple specialties, such as cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, etc., are available under one roof. Therefore, Bangladeshi patients traveling to India have all their medical needs met efficiently.

Other Factors Making India a Top Choice Among Bangladeshi Patients

Apart from the superior medical facilities, qualified professionals, affordable treatment, and modern infrastructure, several other reasons attract Bangladeshi patients to India, such as:

• Geographical Proximity and Connectivity: India and Bangladesh are neighboring countries. Therefore, travel between the two countries is short and affordable, with over 113 weekly flights, including several direct flights. The Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, is well-connected to major Indian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, and Guwahati. Patients can also travel from Bangladesh to Kolkata via road.
• Cultural Affinity: Bangladesh and India share close cultural ties and customs. Bengali (Bangla) is widely spoken in Bangladesh as well as in Eastern and North-eastern India. These common factors make Bangladeshi patients more comfortable in India and facilitate communication between doctors and patients.
• Medical Tourism Services: Several medical tourism service providers in India are available to assist Bangladeshi patients by providing them with comprehensive packages. These services include visa assistance, travel planning, hotel booking, choice of hospital, language interpretation, local SIM cards, airport transfers, currency exchange, and more. As a result, traveling to India is highly convenient for Bangladeshi patients.
• Availability of Doctors: Bangladesh needs more doctors, with just 0.67 doctors per 1000 patients. This ratio is below the recommended 1:1000 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In contrast, the doctor-patient ratio in India is 1:834. Thus, Bangladeshi patients can get appointments faster, and doctors can give more time to each patient in India.
• Government Initiatives: In 2022, the Indian government launched the ‘Heal in India’ initiative to boost medical tourism. This initiative includes relaxed travel restrictions and the promotion of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). Bangladeshi patients seeking alternative treatments can utilize this initiative while traveling to India.

Which Specialties Are Most Commonly Preferred By Bangladeshi Patients?

Bangladeshi patients coming to India for medical treatment opt for various specialties, such as:

• Cardiology: Indian cardiologists are experts in routine procedures such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), angioplasties, pacemaker implantations, and heart valve repairs and replacements. The latest advancements, such as robotics-assisted surgeries (RAS), minimally invasive heart surgeries, and interventional cardiology, are also available to Bangladeshi patients.
• Oncology: In Bangladesh, lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, whereas breast cancer is most prevalent in women. Cancer patients come from Bangladesh to India to seek treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Indian oncology hospitals also use modern treatment technologies, such as linear accelerators (LINAC), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), CAR T-cell therapy, and robotic cancer surgery.
• Gastroenterology: Bangladeshi patients travel to India for safe and affordable gastroenterology procedures such as upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. Advanced treatment options such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are also widely applied in Indian gastroenterology hospitals.
• Rheumatology: Indian rheumatologists routinely treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, osteoarthritis, lupus, and gout. They offer treatments such as pulse therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, chronic pain management, and trigger point management to Bangladeshi patients.
• Neurology: Indian neurosurgeons are known to perform procedures such as anterior cervical discectomy, epilepsy surgery, Chiari decompression, craniotomy, and laminectomy with expertise. Several latest neurosurgical treatments, such as Gamma knife radiosurgery, stereotactic surgery, and proton beam therapy, are also widely available in India.

Other Treatments Sought By Bangladeshi Patients In India

Along with cardiac care, cancer treatment, gastroenterology, rheumatology, and neurosurgery, Bangladeshi patients also travel to India for specialties including:

• Nephrology: Bangladeshi patients with kidney disorders opt for Indian hospitals that provide treatment such as maintenance hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), plasmapheresis, permacath insertions, kidney biopsies, and fistula salvage procedures. Indian nephrologists also effectively and affordably perform new-age techniques, including continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and minimally invasive nephrology surgery.
• Ophthalmology: India is a favored destination for Bangladeshi patients who need ophthalmological treatments, including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, cornea transplant, and squint eye surgery. Indian ophthalmologists perform advanced corrective eye surgeries such as LASIK, SILK eye surgery, PRK, and Contoura Vision with a 98% success rate.
• Orthopedics: Joint replacements, including hip and knee replacements, are among the most common treatments Bangladeshi patients in India seek. They also undergo procedures such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, knee arthroscopy, shoulder replacement, and spinal surgery. Using high-end technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, ‘smart’ implants, minimally invasive surgeries, and computer navigation has increased the success rate and efficacy of orthopedic procedures.
• Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery: Indian plastic surgeons are some of the best in the world, and India ranks fifth in the world in the number of plastic surgeries performed. Bangladeshi patients undergo blepharoplasty, facelifts, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and tummy tucks. They also travel for cosmetic procedures, such as laser skin resurfacing.
• Diagnostic Procedures: Several Bangladeshi patients travel to India to get diagnostic tests, including full body scans, which are much more affordable. These services might be available in a limited capacity in Bangladesh or are inaccurate. Therefore, patients prefer to come to India to get their disorders diagnosed.

Best Hospitals in India for Bangladeshi Patients

India boasts many NABH and JCI-accredited hospitals from which Bangladeshi patients can choose. Notably, some of the top hospitals in India are:

• MGM Healthcare, Chennai
• Manipal Hospital, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon
• Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata
• Nanavati-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai
• Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore
• Gleneagles HealthCity, Chennai
• Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi

Indian Medical Visa for Bangladeshi Patients

All Bangladeshi patients traveling to India must apply for a medical visa by submitting relevant documents and visa processing fees.

What are the documents required to apply for an Indian medical visa?

• Visa application form
• Original passport with at least six months of validity. The passport must have two blank pages.
• One recent passport-sized photograph with a white background. The applicant’s entire face must be visible in the picture.
• A copy of the national ID card or birth certificate
• Electricity/gas/landline telephone bill as proof of residence
• Endorsement of foreign currency equal to USD 150 per applicant/updated bank statement/copy of international credit card or travel card as proof of financial soundness
• Proof of profession:
  • Government order copy
  • Certificate from the employer
  • Copy of government registration for business establishment
  • Copy of ID card from the educational institution
  • Copy of retirement papers
• Relevant medical documents and reports from the local doctor
• Valid appointment letter from an Indian hospital

What are the visa processing fees and processing time for an Indian medical visa? 

Bangladeshi patients applying for an Indian medical visa have to pay a processing fee of 600 to 700 Takas (USD 7 to 9). The visa process takes five to ten working days.

What is the procedure for obtaining an Indian medical visa?

Bangladeshi patients have to follow these steps to obtain an Indian medical visa: 

• Consult a Local Doctor: The patient must first visit a local hospital in Bangladesh, where the doctor will examine them and deliver a diagnosis. The doctor will also refer the patient to an Indian hospital.
• Choose a Hospital: The patient must choose an Indian hospital for further treatment. This choice can be based on doctor availability, hospital services, the patient’s budget, and other factors.
• Apply for a Visa: The patient can apply for an Indian medical visa by submitting the required documents, the application form, and processing fees to the High Commission.
• Visa Approval: Once the authorities approve the application form and documents, the patient receives the visa and is granted permission to travel to India. 

What are the things to remember while applying for an Indian medical visa?

• The patient can be accompanied by three attendants who require a medical attendant visa co-terminus with the patient’s medical visa.
• Parents or guardians must compulsorily accompany minor patients as medical attendants.
• Patients traveling for organ transplantation must obtain clearance from the Law Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• The medical and attendant visas can be extended for another year under exceptional circumstances.
• FRRO registration is mandatory within 14 days of arrival in India.

What is the validity of an Indian medical visa?

• The Indian medical visa is valid for up to one year or for the duration of the treatment, whichever is shorter.
• It is a triple-entry visa, which means the patient can enter India up to three times within the validity period.

To conclude

While the Bangladeshi healthcare system deals with several challenges, India has emerged as a haven of high-quality medical treatment for Bangladeshi patients. Bangladeshi patients coming to India have increased by almost 83% over the last few years. On average, 2.5 lakh patients travel annually to avail themselves of India’s superior medical facilities, diverse treatment options, and top-notch infrastructure. Cultural, linguistic, and culinary similarities between the two countries also contribute to India’s popularity among Bangladeshi patients.

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