25 lakh Bangladeshis receive treatment in India every year

The number of people who go to India from Bangladesh to receive treatment has risen to 84 percent as the country is the first choice of Bangladeshis for treatment. Around 24,70,000 medical tourists go to India from Bangladesh every year and for this, they have to spend several thousands of Taka, said Prashant Sharma, chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce's health committee and managing director of Charnock Hospital.

Indian investors think Bangladesh is an attractive place in the health sector. Kolkata based Desun Hospital has already announced to invest around Tk 1,000 crore in the sector here. Prashant Sharma talked to Jago News about different topics, including possibility of more investment. Jago News's staff reporter Ismail Hossain Rasel interviewed him.

Jago News: People of Bangladesh trust India for treatment and how much can the hospitals in India ensure that medical care?

Prashant Sharma: I think it's a natural choice because India is neighbour state of Bangladesh. Beside treatment costs, there are other expenses. Suppose it costs 100 US dollar for treatment of a patient in India or Thailand. But accommodation costs of the patient and others who company him is $20 in India, $200 in Thailand and $500 in Singapore. Medical and other expenses are very affordable in India. 

Jago News: Do you have any statistics about how many people from Bangladesh take treatment in India?

Prashant Sharma: According to the data of our health tourism department, tourism travel rose to 84 percent in the last few years. Data from 2021 showed as many as 24,70,000 medical tourists come to India from Bangladesh and they spend more than Tk 5,000 crore in medical tourism. This statistics is of them who go to India using medical visa and apart from this, there are also other visa holders.

Most of them go to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and some go to Delhi and Mumbai - which is roughly 10 to 12 percent. The highest number of people go to West Bengal and the second highest number of patients go to Tamil Nadu where Chennai and CMC Vellore are located. Some others go to Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Jago News: How much money Bangladeshi nationals spend on average for treatment in India?

Prashant Sharma: General cost is between 3,800 to 7,200 dollar. Besides, there are several surgeries that costs much more such as it may cost Tk 20 lakh for transplant, on the other hand, Tk 1 lakh is enough for gynecology surgery. So, it depends on which treatment you will receive. Bangladeshi patients spend a total of $500 million in India every year. The average medical cost is between $3,800 to $7,200.

Jago News: Indian investors want to invest a huge amount of money in Bangladesh and an announcement of Tk 1,000 crore investment came in the health sector. How strong do you think the investment in this sector with Bangladesh?

Prashant Sharma: Bangladeshi patients spend $500 million in India every year. If they get the same treatment in Bangladesh, the $500 million costs will decrease to $150 or $250 million. It's very sensitive matter if Bangladeshi patients are treated here. Why is this not happening? There are many good hospitals in Bangladesh but India has clinical skill in a few places and it will be very good if patients are treated here with the skill. 

I think the government should think about governing foreign physicians. It's a little bit factional because doctor society in every country create various impediments to keep themselves safe. It happens in most countries of Asia and Europe but it doesn't exist in Africa and it also doesn't exist in some South Asian countries. We will have to create rule considering our society. If this rule is relaxed for Bangladesh, so many patients will not go outside. Doctors from other countries can treat patients here. 

Jago News: Sometimes investors invest money considering the political situation. As an MD of a renowned hospital, whether you see any obstacle in investing in Bangladesh?

Prashant Sharma: Politics and investment will go in parallel. There is little influence but businessmen have an own flow. Investment will be according to demand supply in the market. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) will come as per rule. It's not matter when which government rules.

Jago News: Whether Indian investors think to invest more in Bangladesh except the Tk 1,000 crore?

Prashant Sharma: Two or one group have made announcement but I think Bangladesh attracts India around Tk 8,000 crore FDI in health sector and there is new market space. How much investment will come, it depends on Bangladesh market and government policies.

Jago News: What kinds of treatment Bangladeshi patients receive at Charnock Hospital? How much attention is paid to the cost there?

Prashant Sharma: Our Charnock Hospital is 300-bed super speciality facility where all kinds of treatments, including cardiac, neuro, gastro, cancer and transplant, are given. Our most strong department is nephrology. Our hospital conducts many transplant programs where Bengal government is concerned or not concerned which we call all touristed donation and we follow it as per rule. Out of our 300 beds, 106 are for ICU. Our hospital near Airport and we arrange guest house there giving subsidiary. We arrange guest house there for patient's family at Tk 500 rate every day. Apart from this, there are many other facilities and its environment is good such as a hospital zone was created at Mukundapur of South where cost is somewhat high but the cost here (at our hospital) will be within 70 percent. If it costs Tk 1 lakh there, it will be between Tk 60,000 to Tk 70,000 here (at our hospital).

Jago News: Does Charnock Hospital have a plan to invest in Bangladesh?

Prashant Sharma: It may be in the future because Bangladesh is an attractive market for us. We have many scopes in health care of India and now we will do these. We will consider it when we make some more growth.

Jago News: As most of the patients go to India for treatment, the number of Bangladeshi nationals traveling there increased. Do you think there should be more opportunities for Bangladeshis? 

Prashant Sharma: First of all, visa process should be more patient oriented. Of course, government has some parameters here but we can do it little better. Secondly, informing logistic and transparent information such as how does a hospital work? There is no much difference between two countries (Bangladesh and India). Coming here it seems to me that I am staying in my own country.

Bangladeshis think Kolkata is their home when they go there and this relationship will grow. Kolkata's population is 10 crore while Bangladesh's 18 crore and this is large ecosystem. It will rise more in the future. Yes, it will decline when the medical skill in Bangladesh will reach high level. Market is in upward trend and it will always be in growth.

IHR/SU