Medical Tourism: Why people go abroad and how Bangladesh can bring them back

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis cross borders in search of better medical care. From heart surgeries in India to cosmetic procedures in Thailand, medical tourism has quietly become one of the biggest forms of capital outflow from Bangladesh. While it reflects a growing aspiration for quality healthcare, it also exposes deep weaknesses in the country's own health system — gaps that can no longer be ignored if Bangladesh wishes to retain both its patients and its foreign currency.

India has long been the top destination. Before the pandemic, over half of all foreign medical tourists entering India came from Bangladesh. According to India's Ministry of Tourism, around 482,000 Bangladeshis travelled there for medical purposes in 2024, accounting for nearly 52% of India's inbound medical tourists — a slight drop from 500,000 in 2023 amid rising visa restrictions. The reasons are clear: proximity, cultural familiarity, lower costs compared to the West, and advanced facilities in cities like Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore. Cardiac diseases, kidney transplants, neurosurgery, and oncology treatments are among the most sought-after.

But the flow is no longer limited to India. Recent geopolitical shifts have led to diversification, with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey attracting a growing number of Bangladeshi patients. Thailand, in particular, has emerged as a frontrunner due to easier visa procedures and a surge in inquiries following India's restrictions on medical visas, now limited to critical cases.

In 2019 alone, Bangladeshis spent over 6.7 billion Thai Baht (around Tk2,000 crore) on medical treatment in Thailand. Reports suggest a 200% increase in inquiries from Bangladesh in late 2024, driven by anti-India sentiment and rising costs elsewhere. Thailand's appeal lies in its blend of quality healthcare and hospitality — hospitals in Bangkok and Phuket have turned treatment into a comfort-driven experience supported by internationally accredited facilities, English-speaking staff, and flexible visa policies.

Behind this exodus lies a painful truth: despite progress in public health, Bangladesh's healthcare system struggles with quality, capacity, and trust. The country has made strides in reducing child mortality and infectious diseases, but tertiary care remains underdeveloped. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh has only 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people — far below the WHO recommendation of 23. Most high-end treatments are confined to a few private hospitals in Dhaka, while district towns lack modern diagnostics and specialists.

The private sector dominates healthcare delivery, yet quality varies widely. Many hospitals operate without proper accreditation, and even top-tier ones face criticism for inconsistency and lack of accountability. Costs are another factor. While treatment abroad seems expensive, it is often comparable to what corporate hospitals in Dhaka charge. The difference lies in reliability — patients feel they get better value for money overseas, with transparent diagnosis, skilled specialists, and humane patient care.

A 2024 report in this daily estimated that Bangladeshi patients spend about $5 billion annually on overseas treatment — more than the government's total health budget for FY2025-26, which stands at Tk41,408 crore (about $3.38 billion). It is not just the wealthy elite; middle-class families frequently sell property or take loans to fund treatment abroad, leading to both financial distress and erosion of confidence in local healthcare.

The question, therefore, is not just why people go abroad — but how Bangladesh can bring them back. The answer lies in rebuilding public trust through reform and regulation.

Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, professor at the Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, said the biggest reason patients go abroad is mistrust in the entire healthcare ecosystem — from doctors and nurses to diagnostics and medicines. "Although Bangladesh has many skilled doctors, most of them don't properly listen to patients," he said. "Listening through an assistant is not real communication." He added that inaccurate diagnostic results often lead to wrong treatment, further weakening trust.

Dr Hamid said many patients complain that local doctors and nurses are not as humble or empathetic as those abroad. "People who return from overseas often mention how kind and attentive the doctors were — something they rarely experience here." He also noted lingering concerns about medicine quality despite Bangladesh's strong pharmaceutical industry. "When prescribed drugs fail, patients lose faith not just in doctors but in the entire system," he said. "We must fix this ecosystem. It's difficult, but absolutely necessary."

Dr A M Zakir Hussain, chairman of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust, highlighted another major gap: diagnostic capacity. "We have massive weaknesses in detecting life-threatening diseases such as cancer," he said. "Upgrading technology is essential if we want better outcomes."

He also acknowledged what he called an "open secret" — that some doctors take commissions from diagnostic labs and fail to give patients adequate attention. "Unfortunately, that's true," he said. "There's a certain arrogance among many of our doctors that you don't usually see in India or Thailand. Patients abroad feel heard and respected, which makes a huge difference."

Dr Hussain pointed to medical education as a root cause of these problems. "Our curriculum is not up to international standards," he said. "If we can't modernise medical education and ensure proper diagnostic training, the system will remain weak — and we will keep losing patients to hospitals abroad."