Bangladesh Crisis Threatens India’s Medical Tourism Sector: CareEdge Ratings

Bangladesh is a major player in India’s medical tourism sector, and current instability in the country may lead to a decrease in arrivals. CareEdge Ratings projects that if the unrest continues, the number of Bangladeshi patients visiting India could decline by 10-15 percent in 2024.

Typically, Bangladesh contributes 50-60 percent of India’s total international medical tourism inflow. According to a report from the rating agency, a significant number of these travelers have either canceled or postponed their trips to India.

India’s healthcare system is renowned globally for its competitive treatment costs, high-quality medical facilities, and relatively short waiting times. The country ranks among the top 10 global destinations for medical tourism, particularly favored by visitors from South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

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“Nearly 70-80 percent of medical tourists arriving in India are from Bangladesh and Middle East countries,” the agency notes. The appeal of India’s medical tourism is driven by cultural and linguistic similarities, affordable quality treatment, and advanced facilities. Bangladesh is the leading contributor to India’s medical tourism, outpacing other neighboring countries such as the Middle East, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

“This highlights Bangladesh’s crucial role in the Indian medical tourism sector. However, recent socio-political instability in Bangladesh poses a risk to this thriving segment of the industry,” CareEdge Ratings adds.

In 2023, international medical tourism to India saw an increase of approximately 33 percent year-on-year. Despite the anticipated decline in Bangladeshi visitors and the expected gradual recovery by the end of 2024, CareEdge Ratings predicts only a minimal overall impact on the sector.

Medical tourism showed some recovery in 2021 after being heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, although travel restrictions continued to affect the sector. The industry saw a significant rebound in 2022, nearly reaching pre-Covid levels, and the positive trend persisted into 2023.

India’s move to extend the e-medical visa facility to nationals from various countries is expected to further enhance medical tourism in the years to come.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Newsx staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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