India's medical tourism industry has experienced a significant downturn, with a reported 50-60% decline in the inflow of medical tourists from Bangladesh following the suspension of visa services for Bangladeshis. A recent report by CareEdge Ratings highlighted that Bangladesh accounts for nearly 50-60% of India's total medical tourism, making it a key contributor. According to *The Business Standard India*, the suspension of visa issuance and the withdrawal of staff from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka have heavily impacted the sector, with major players witnessing a drop in patient numbers.

Between April and September of the current financial year (H1FY25), several top Indian hospitals saw a 25-40% reduction in the number of Bangladeshi patients, leading to substantial revenue losses. Apollo Hospitals, one of India's largest healthcare providers, reported a 15% overall decline in international patient revenue during the first half of the year, primarily due to a 27% fall in income from Bangladeshi patients.

Madhu Sasidhar, CEO of Apollo Hospitals, noted that the unrest in Bangladesh significantly impacted patient volume, particularly for lower-acuity cases such as routine health check-ups. While the patient numbers have started to recover, they have not yet reached the levels seen in previous years.

At present, the Indian government is only issuing emergency visas to Bangladeshi nationals, further exacerbating the situation. A report has projected a 10-15% drop in footfall from Bangladesh, with other hospital chains experiencing similar declines.

For Manipal Hospitals, which relies on international patients for around 10% of its revenue, Bangladeshi patients account for nearly 40-45% of their international patient base in Kolkata and Bangalore. The decline was most noticeable between July and September, with September seeing a dramatic 50-60% drop in patient flow. While things have improved slightly in October, the hospital is currently operating at 60% of its usual Bangladeshi patient volume.

Max Healthcare also experienced a dip in revenue from Bangladesh, despite an overall 18% growth in international business. The Bangladesh market typically contributes about 5% of Max Healthcare’s international revenue, but this dropped by 50% due to the political instability in the country.

Despite these setbacks, the overall impact on India’s hospital sector is expected to remain limited, as medical tourism constitutes only about 3-5% of the total revenue for the sector. In 2023, India welcomed around 635,000 medical tourists, with roughly 300,000-350,000 coming from Bangladesh, according to Bureau of Immigration data.