Bangladeshis Flock Back to Kolkata's Hospitals as Visa Rules Ease
Kolkata's medical tourism has received a significant boost due to the resumption of tourist visas for Bangladeshis. Since the visa services were reopened on June 28, over 1.4 lakh applications have been received within 24 hours. The relaxation in visa rules has led to an increase in medical visas being approved.
Private hospitals in Kolkata have reported a surge in Bangladeshi patients, with Desun Hospital seeing a 30-35% increase in patient footfall at its Kolkata and Siliguri units. RN Tagore hospital has also seen a 20% rise in Bangladeshi patients, the sharpest since restrictions were imposed in 2024.
Ayanabh Debgupta, regional director of Manipal Hospitals, expects a 25-30% increase in Bangladeshi patients over the next two weeks. Peerless Hospital has also seen an improvement, with daily arrivals increasing from less than 10 to 60 since tourist visa approvals resumed.