Indian Medical Association opposes boycott of Bangladeshi patients

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly opposed the decision of JN Roy Hospital to deny medical treatment to Bangladeshi patients. In a press conference held on Wednesday (December 3), the IMA made it clear that treatment for Bangladeshi patients visiting India cannot be halted under any circumstances.

The press conference was attended by Dr N Kanjilal and Dr Kaushik Chowdhury, members of IMA’s West Bengal branch.

They stated that requiring patients to salute the Indian national flag before entering the hospital and refusing treatment to patients violates medical ethics. According to them, all patients are equal in the eyes of doctors, and medical professionals should not discriminate based on nationality, religion, or ethnicity. Therefore, Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment should not be harassed in any way. They must be provided with medical care.

The two IMA members also noted that, while the current unrest has affected Bangladeshi patients, it has also caused financial losses to India’s medical tourism sector. However, they expressed confidence that this issue will soon be resolved.

The IMA further announced that a dedicated helpline will soon be set up for Bangladeshi patients, through which they can receive all necessary medical assistance.

Earlier, on Friday, the management of Kolkata's private JN Roy Hospital announced on social media that, due to the current situation, they would not provide medical services to Bangladeshi patients. The hospital's doctor, Shubhranshu Bhakta, publicly called on other Indian doctors to adopt a similar temporary stance.

However, this decision was strongly opposed by West Bengal’s Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. He stated that doctors should never act this way, even towards adversaries. He emphasized that the primary duty of a doctor or medical institution is to heal the sick.