Hospitals in Kolkata and its suburbs, where many patients from neighbouring Bangladesh have been a lifeline for the city’s health sector, have now seen a significant drop in numbers, and some doctors fear that seriously ill Bangladeshi patients will not be seen and treatment will be delayed as visas have been suspended due to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh.
“As per estimates, India has seen a 48% increase in medical tourists from Bangladesh in 2023 compared to 2022. As many as 449,000 patients from Bangladesh will visit India in 2023, with a majority of them coming to West Bengal for treatment. Due to the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, their travel plans will be rearranged and rescheduled,” said Pratim Sengupta, senior nephrologist and medical doctor, Nephro Care India Limited. Dr Sengupta, however, is hopeful that the downturn is temporary and the industry will bounce back soon.
An official at the Manipal Group of Hospitals in Kolkata said the worsening situation in Bangladesh was being felt at the hospital: “From today, the number of patients coming in has started to decrease. [Saturday] The Indian Embassy in Dhaka has stopped issuing visas since yesterday. [Friday]On average, around 2,500 patients visit the three hospitals in Kolkata from Bangladesh, including the outpatient departments. [Out Patient Department] and IP [In-Patient]”The number of patients has come down to around 1,800 since the protests began in Bangladesh. It is likely to come down further from next week, especially the outpatient numbers,” a Manipal Hospital official said.
Some doctors who were scheduled to see critically ill patients were worried about their health. “Many of my patients are stranded in India after completing their treatment. Many cancer patients who were scheduled to come to start their treatment could not make it. This is a huge disadvantage, especially for cancer patients. As a doctor, I am hopeful that normalcy will be restored soon and we all work together to save lives,” said Sayan Paul, consultant, radiation oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata.
An internet shutdown in Bangladesh has also made it difficult for doctors to reach seriously ill patients.
Restrictions on cross-border travel between India and Bangladesh are preventing patients from attending scheduled appointments. Trains and buses have been suspended and cross-border travel has become a safety hazard for many. “Some hospitals in India, especially in Kolkata and Chennai, which had a significant number of Bangladeshi patients, are experiencing slow season. Some patients have cancelled their trips and some who are already in India are desperately trying to make arrangements to extend their stay. Patient numbers at various outpatient departments have fallen and appointments are being cancelled at speciality clinics in the city,” said MS Purkait, medical director, Techno India DAMA Hospital.
The future of medical tourism in Kolkata depends on the resolution of the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. As the situation evolves over the next few days, the picture will become clearer.
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