Hospitals in Kolkata are stepping up efforts to help Bangladeshi patients find safe accommodation as medical tourism from Bangladesh has declined following a deadly fire at a guest house in the city.
The fire at a guest house on Free School Street killed nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals, prompting authorities to tighten scrutiny of budget hotels and other accommodation facilities, says Times of India.
Following the incident, the Bangladesh High Commission issued an advisory urging travellers to secure bookings at safe, legally authorised hotels before travelling to Kolkata.
Accommodation challenges
Many Bangladeshi patients travel to Kolkata by road and seek low-cost accommodation, which can leave them staying in unsafe or unapproved budget hotels.
The issue is particularly relevant for outpatient department (OPD) patients. Although OPD patients do not require a medical visa to visit India, they can need treatment over an extended period, making affordable and reliable accommodation an important consideration.
Hospitals respond
Several Kolkata hospitals have begun taking direct measures to help patients arrange accommodation before travelling.
BP Poddar Hospital and Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital are sending liaison teams to Bangladesh to meet patients and their families and help them arrange accommodation at safe hotels before their journeys.
BP Poddar Hospital is also building dedicated accommodation facilities adjacent to its south Kolkata location. The secure housing facility is expected to open soon.
Woodlands has partnered with several verified guest houses and hotels in the Alipore area and is distributing the list to patients with scheduled appointments.
Ruby General Hospital is setting up a dedicated desk to coordinate with patients and has prepared a list of nearby accommodation options it considers safe. Desun Hospital’s international cell has also begun arranging verified lodging for patients.
Long-term outlook
Hospital executives said the Bangladesh High Commission’s advisory could make some travellers more cautious in the short term, but they do not expect it to significantly affect genuine medical travel to Kolkata over the longer term.
The hospitals’ efforts are instead aimed at addressing accommodation concerns and making medical travel more organised and secure for Bangladeshi patients, they said.
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