India to simplify medical visa process for Bangladeshis

India has pledged to provide affordable and quality healthcare services for Bangladeshi citizens, along with easier access to medical visas.

Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Kumar Verma made the remarks at a signing ceremony held at a hotel in the capital on Thursday (April 23).

At the event, Bangladesh’s Rhythm Group and India’s Manipal Hospitals signed an agreement aimed at facilitating medical tourism and making it easier for Bangladeshi patients to access advanced healthcare services in India.

Speaking at the event, Pranay Kumar Verma said India is interested in working jointly to strengthen Bangladesh’s healthcare sector. He also urged private sector stakeholders from both countries to come forward and further organize the medical tourism sector.

Under the agreement, Bangladeshi patients are expected to receive visa assistance, advanced treatment facilities, accommodation support, and special discounts on air travel, according to organizers.

Pranay Kumar Verma described the initiative as more than just a business arrangement, calling it a people-centric collaboration. He noted that India’s advanced medical expertise is globally recognized and said the initiative would open new avenues for knowledge exchange and institutional partnerships.

Meanwhile, during a recent visit by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to India, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured that Indian visas—especially medical and business visas—would be made easier for Bangladeshis within the next few weeks. He also emphasized strengthening bilateral relations.

Diplomatic sources said that medical visas for Bangladeshis may be introduced on a priority basis soon.

It is worth noting that after the political changes on August 5, 2024, India had limited visa operations for Bangladeshis, which have yet to fully return to normal.