Bangladesh’s Rhythm Group and India’s Manipal Hospitals sign medical tourism deal

Bangladesh’s Rhythm Group and India’s Manipal Hospitals today (23 April) signed a landmark agreement to streamline medical tourism, offering Bangladeshi patients seamless access to advanced healthcare services in India.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at a city hotel, attended by Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma as the chief guest.

The initiative combines Rhythm Group’s expertise in travel, aviation and logistics with Manipal Hospitals’ extensive clinical network, comprising 49 hospitals, over 12,600 beds and more than 11,000 doctors.

The services will include facilitation of second medical opinions, review of medical reports and tailored guidance to ensure appropriate treatment options.

Patients will also benefit from coordinated travel support, including visa assistance, accommodation arrangements and special airfare facilities through airline partnerships.

Speaking on the occasion, Pranay said the agreement reflected the deepening people-centric partnership between Bangladesh and India and would further strengthen cooperation in healthcare and connectivity between the two neighbouring countries.

He said, “India remained committed to facilitating access to quality and affordable healthcare services for Bangladeshi citizens and welcomed greater institutional collaboration between the private sectors of both countries.”

“At Manipal, we believe that delivering quality healthcare is a shared responsibility that transcends borders. With Rhythm Group’s strong presence and expertise, we are confident that patients from Bangladesh will experience hassle-free access to our patient-centric, world-class healthcare services,” said Group COO of Manipal Health Enterprises Karthik Rajagopal.

On behalf of the Rhythm Group, Abhir Hossain said the partnership would bring major relief to Bangladeshi patients by ensuring reliable guidance, smoother travel arrangements and easier access to advanced treatment facilities in India.

He said, “The agreement would help organise Bangladesh’s growing medical tourism sector and offer patients greater confidence, convenience and peace of mind while seeking specialised care abroad. Under the partnership, Bangladeshi patients will receive end-to-end support for treatment in India, including medical consultations, hospital selection, visa processing and travel arrangements.”

Both sides also announced plans to introduce a digital video consultation platform, enabling Bangladeshi patients to consult specialist doctors remotely before travelling.

In the long term, the two organisations aim to establish a multidisciplinary hospital in Bangladesh through a joint venture to enhance local healthcare capacity.

Rhythm Group Managing Director Shohag Hossain and Manipal Health Enterprises Group Consultant Jithu Jose inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides, while Rhythm Group Deputy Managing Director Abhir Hossain was present.