Bangladeshi Patients Flee Kolkata Hospitals Amidst Political Uncertainty
Kolkata: The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh is causing a significant downturn in the inflow of patients from neighboring countries to Kolkata's hospitals. The main reasons cited for this decline are delays in issuing visas and fear psychosis among Bangladeshi nationals, resulting in a drastic drop of over 90 per cent in footfall at several medical establishments.
The Peerless Hospital, one of the well-known healthcare institutions in the city, has witnessed a substantial decline in patients from Bangladesh, particularly with regards to outpatient and inpatient departments. According to Ravindra Pai, managing director of the hospital, the current situation has forced them to put off any scheduled surgeries until further notice, provided that patients begin arriving.
Rupak Barua, managing director and CEO of Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital Limited, also registered a sharp decline in patient inflow from Bangladesh over the last four months. As there are no currently admitted Bangladeshi patients at the medical establishment,monthly surgery numbers remain constant; however, the number of outpatient patients has fallen by 50 percent within this span.
On the other side, Desun Hospitals Group director Shaoli Dutta said nearly a 60% decline in Bangladeshi patients was observed at their facility. "The drop started coinciding with the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh," she added. Furthermore, it was evident that the dip has increased significantly since October when the arrest of monk Chinmay Krishna Das further impacted patient movement across borders.
While Manipal Hospitals (East) witnessed a decline in the inflow of Bangladeshi patients and observed an increase in online consultations, their primary focus shifted towards ensuring continuity of care for existing old patients using telemedicine services. Moreover, despite not refusing any patient due to a concern for care, no planned surgeries have been put off so far.
On the other hand, officials at Apollo Hospitals chose not to reveal information regarding this matter. The spokespersons from Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) and Disha Eye Hospitals also expressed similar sentiments.
In conclusion, despite efforts by medical institutions in Kolkata to provide patient care, ongoing uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh's politics continues to profoundly affect the inflow of Bangladeshi patients, ultimately affecting the operational capacity of local hospitals.