“Dhaka, Bangladesh – Khadiza Khatun faced a devastating setback in September when doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital informed her that her 37-year-old husband, Mohammad Nuri Alam, urgently needed a liver transplant – a procedure not available in Bangladesh. After extensive research, they decided to seek treatment at India’s Asian Institute of Gastroenterology in Hyderabad, a trusted destination for many Bangladeshi patients. However, three months later, they are still waiting for visas to travel to India. Due to heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh following the political unrest in August, visa operations have been significantly reduced, causing Khadiza and her husband to miss important medical appointments. They are uncertain if they will be able to make it to India in time for their next appointment on January 10. Khadiza feels helpless as she watches her husband’s health deteriorate while they rely on temporary treatment in Dhaka hospitals, hoping for a resolution in the new year. This struggle is shared by many Bangladeshi patients who depend on affordable healthcare in India, but are now facing difficulties due to visa restrictions imposed by Indian authorities. The strained relationship between the two countries has also affected the medical tourism industry in India, with a drastic decrease in the number of Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment. The situation has forced some patients to explore alternative treatment options in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkiye, despite the higher costs involved. The impact is not only felt by patients but also by hospitals in India that cater to international patients, with a significant drop in the number of Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment. The challenges faced by Bangladeshi patients have been described as ‘very difficult’ by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh, highlighting the dire situation that many patients are currently experiencing.”
