Kolkata Hospitals Face Severe Patient Decline Amid Crisis

Kolkata hospitals, particularly those along the EM Bypass, are facing an unprecedented decline in patient inflows from Bangladesh, with a staggering 69% drop in admissions over the past month. The ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh is being cited as the primary reason for this sharp reduction. For hospitals like Peerless, RN Tagore International Institute, Fortis, and Ruby, which have long been preferred destinations for medical treatment, especially elective surgeries, the decrease in patients from the neighbouring country is proving to be a serious concern.

In comparative data from mid-November to mid-December, four major hospitals in Kolkata reported a drastic reduction in Bangladeshi patients. In 2023, these hospitals collectively catered to around 6,300 patients from Bangladesh during the same period. However, this year, the number plummeted to just over 2,000. Peerless Hospital’s CEO, Sudipta Mitra, revealed that last year during this time, the hospital treated about 3,100 patients from Bangladesh, while only 1,289 patients sought treatment this year, highlighting a substantial dip in numbers.

The trend began in November and worsened by December, with hospitals anticipating that the patient inflow will remain low for the foreseeable future. “Elective surgeries typically peak in the November to January window, but now, most patients from Bangladesh arriving here are only those requiring emergency medical care,” said R Venkatesh, COO of Narayana Health, East and South regions. This shift has not only affected the hospitals financially but also led to concerns about the long-term viability of medical tourism in Kolkata, which traditionally attracts thousands from Bangladesh annually due to its affordability, accessibility, and proximity.

One of the key factors contributing to this drastic decline is the struggle to obtain medical visas. Many Bangladeshi patients report delays in visa processing, particularly for elective treatments, with authorities granting them mainly for emergency procedures. Furthermore, some patients, even with approved visas, have expressed reluctance to travel amid the ongoing turmoil, preferring to wait for the situation to stabilize. This has raised questions about the resilience of Kolkata’s healthcare sector, which heavily relies on international patients for its financial sustainability, and the broader implications of regional instability on medical tourism.