India cuts medical visas, Bangladeshis turn to China for doctors
Bangladeshis are increasingly seeking affordable medical treatment in China after India reduced medical visa issuance. A Bangladeshi delegation recently visited Yunnan, China, to explore medical tourism. The shift comes amid a significant reduction in visa slots for medical purposes in India, which previously attracted many Bangladeshis for medical care.
Bangladeshis are turning to China for affordable medical treatment as India has cut down on issuing medical visas since the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said a Bangladeshi group this month visited the southwestern province of Yunnan for treatment to explore the potential of the medical tourism market.
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Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, is scheduled to visit China this month to meet President Xi Jinping. It is worth noting that earlier Bangladeshis preferred India for affordable medical services and Bengali-speaking hospital staff. However, India has cut down on issuing medical visas to Bangladeshi citizens. According to Al Jazeera's report, the daily online visa slots at five Indian visa centers in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, have come down from seven thousand to about 500. Government data from both countries shows that in the year 2023, India issued more than 20 lakh visas to Bangladeshis, most of them on medical grounds.
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