B\'desh upheaval takes a toll on medical tourism in India, ET HealthWorld

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New Delhi: The number of Bangladeshis visiting India for medical treatment has dropped by up to 50 per cent since the start of the recent political developments in that country, executives of major hospital chains told ET.

Industry executives also fear trade disruptions due to the political crisis could hurt India\'s pharma exports to Bangladesh, a growing market for them.

India has become a top destination for medical tourists from Bangladeshis, with a significant number of patients opting for affordable and high-quality treatment in Indian hospitals.

\"The ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh has impacted the flow of patients to our facilities,\" said a spokesperson for Fortis Healthcare, which runs a chain of hospitals.

Many patients have cancelled or postponed their travel plans, causing an up to 50 per cent drop in the visits of such patients at some of its hospitals, he said, expressing hope that \"it will gradually improve as the situation stabilises in Bangladesh\".

The numbers from Bangladesh have been increasing consistently, an hospital executive said on the condition of anonymity. Some hospital chains receive the maximum number of patients from Bangladesh, he said, adding: \"They would have been severely affected.\"

An executive from the international marketing team of one of the biggest hospital chains told ET that hospitals are seeing a downward trend in patient arrivals from Bangladesh and that they fear a further drop in the numbers.

\"We have seen a reduced number of patients coming to the hospital over the past few weeks from Bangladesh. Approximately 20 per cent reduction has been seen since the unrest began,\" this executive said. Another executive from a big hospital chain said they have already seen a 5 per cent decline in revenue and a 30 per cent fall in patient volumes. \"Also new patients are not coming,\" he added.

Meanwhile, pharma experts fear disruptions for the sector. Bangladesh sources 30 per cent of the total active pharmaceutical ingredients and related raw materials from India.

\"Any crisis that affects trade could lead to delays in supply, increased costs, or even interruptions in medication availability,\" said in industry executive.

All major pharma companies and medium and small enterprises are likely to get affected, he added.
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