India is turning into a medical tourism destination for Bangladeshis

Kazi Mohammed Hasima, a 44-year-old businessman from Bangladesh’s Chittagong district, first visited Kolkata in 2005 for a health check-up. A regular medical tourist since then, he is one of the many Bangladeshis crossing the border for better healthcare – a booming business in Kolkata.

Lack of quality healthcare in Bangladesh, geographical proximity to West Bengal and a common culture have made Kolkata a hub for medical tourists. To add to its advantage, services in the city are 30 per cent cheaper than in Vellore or Chennai.