Bangladesh unrest triggers fall in cross-border medical travel

Bhubaneswar: Tensions and recent mob lynching incidents in Bangladesh have started to impact cross-border medical travel, with a sharp decline in Bangladeshi nationals coming to Odisha. AIIMS Bhubaneswar, which had treated 25 Bangladeshi patients in 2024, has received only five such patients in 2025.AIIMS Bhubaneswar medical superintendent Dr Dillip Parida said Bangladeshi patients seek care in key departments such as orthopaedics, paediatrics and cardiology. The institute has been a preferred destination for many foreign patients due to a combination of affordability, modern facilities and specialist expertise. Pratyush Ray, state secretary of Indian Medical Association (IMA), said the draw for Bangladeshi patients has traditionally been the availability of quality healthcare at comparatively lower costs, along with access to expert doctors and advanced treatment options. He said some corporate hospitals in Odisha receive Bangladeshi patients though AIIMS remains a major public-sector option.However, the current political and social climate appears to be discouraging travel. Ray said even a private hospital in Bhubaneswar that usually sees several Bangladeshi patients annually has not received any in the last two to three months. He attributed this to fear among Bangladeshi nationals of possible backlash in India following reports of attacks on minorities and lynching incidents in Bangladesh.Former ambassador Malay Mishra said the decline is not surprising given the strained equation between India and Bangladesh. He observed that as reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh circulate, Bangladeshis in India may feel increasingly unwelcome, making them more cautious about travelling for medical treatment.