Kolkata's Medical Tourism Poised for Major Revival with India-Bangladesh Visa Resumption
The formation of a new government in Bangladesh and the subsequent resumption of visa services between India and Bangladesh are set to breathe new life into Kolkata's medical tourism sector. Hospital administrators in the city are already witnessing a significant uptick in inquiries from Bangladeshi patients, particularly regarding visa invitation letters (VIL), signaling a potential surge in patient footfall within the next two to three weeks.
Surge in Inquiries and Patient Numbers
Private hospitals along Kolkata's E M Bypass, which previously catered to between 1,000 and 6,000 Bangladeshi patients monthly before the July 2024 uprising, are now fielding numerous calls. Sudipta Mitra, CEO of Peerless Hospital, noted that daily patient numbers from Bangladesh had plummeted from an average of 180 to around 20 earlier, but have recently climbed to about 40. "In the past couple of days, we've received approximately 130 inquiries daily for VIL, indicating a strong recovery," Mitra stated.
At Ruby General Hospital, Subhasish Datta, chief general manager of operations, reported a similar trend. The facility, which typically sees around 35 Bangladeshi patients daily for cancer care and cardiac surgeries, experienced a drastic decline. "Since Tuesday, calls about VIL requests have started pouring in, suggesting a turnaround," Datta explained.
Impact of Visa Restrictions and Diplomatic Strains
During the period of strained relations, medical visas were not entirely suspended but were primarily limited to urgent, emergency, or critical cases, often resulting in delays. This situation left many patients in a difficult position, exacerbating the downturn in medical tourism.
R Venkatesh, group COO of Narayana Health, highlighted that at RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, the Bangladeshi patient count dropped by over 50% between October 2024 and June 2025. Although numbers showed some improvement in the following two months, they declined again by around 40% from September. "With the recent visa developments, we anticipate footfall to increase by next month, especially after Eid," Venkatesh projected.
Optimism Among Hospital Leaders
Ayanabah Debgupta, regional director for the east region at Manipal Hospital, revealed that the Bangladeshi patient count had previously dipped by about 90%. "Now, we are receiving numerous calls from patients in our neighboring country. We are optimistic about seeing patients return as early as the next few weeks," Debgupta expressed.
Prashant Sharma, MD of Charnock Hospital and chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce healthcare committee, emphasized the broader implications. He pointed out that while hospitals in other regions attract international patients from places like South Africa and Europe, Bangladesh has been Kolkata's primary source, with Myanmar as a future prospect. "The recent developments are set to positively impact the city's medical tourism landscape," Sharma concluded.
This revival is expected to not only boost hospital revenues but also strengthen cross-border healthcare collaborations, marking a significant step forward for Kolkata's medical sector.
