Economy
India Sees 48% Surge in Medical Tourists from Bangladesh in 2023
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.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
