Bangladesh is on the verge of finalizing a major agreement with China that could redirect thousands of Bangladeshi medical tourists away from India. According to reports from Dhaka-based Prothom Alo, three leading hospitals in China’s Yunnan province—First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and Fuwai Yunnan Hospital—have been designated to admit Bangladeshi patients. If all goes as planned, this shift could take effect as early as March.
Historically, India has been the primary destination for Bangladeshi patients seeking advanced medical care, with nearly 10,000 patients visiting Kolkata alone each month before the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh. However, following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the number of Bangladeshi patients traveling to India has declined significantly. This downturn has reportedly led to a 10-15% revenue loss for major hospitals in Kolkata and Tripura.
China and Bangladesh are currently negotiating streamlined visa processes to facilitate easier access to medical treatment. In addition, plans are in motion to recruit translators to assist Bangladeshi patients in Chinese hospitals. Furthermore, the new government in Bangladesh, led by Mohammad Yunus, has approached China with a proposal to establish the Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital in Dhaka, to which Beijing has responded positively, requesting a detailed proposal.
This development follows allegations from Bangladesh that India has been rejecting visa applications for medical patients. Previously, around 1.2 million Bangladeshi patients sought medical treatment in India annually. However, with growing difficulties in obtaining Indian medical visas, many have started seeking alternatives in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.
China has also extended an offer to provide modern medical equipment to treat those injured in last year’s July-August rebellion in Bangladesh. With China’s increasing influence in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector, India may face further economic and diplomatic challenges in maintaining its dominance in medical tourism in the region.