Syndicates of 'middlemen' have for some time been active at different Bangladesh government and private hospitals and clinics with the task of persuading patients to take treatment at Indian hospitals and clinics, in exchange of commission.
Many hospital staff-turned-middlemen lure seemingly well-off patients into going to the hospitals and clinics in India. They promise all the facilities from issuing passports, getting visas to safe stay in India and coming back to the country.
For the job they get hefty amounts from the Indian hospitals. Many hospitals have opened 'international wings' for this purpose. These wings look after the middlemen.
Recently this correspondent has met some of the members of such syndicates working in Bangladesh and talked to them.
Abdul Hakim has been working as a middleman for five years. He has agents at many government hospitals in Bangladesh.
"If any patient is found to be suffering from prolonged illness, having enough money to afford treatment at Indian hospitals, then agents at the particular Bangladesh hospital inform me. Then I approach the patient or his or her relatives to undergo treatment at my 'targeted' hospitals in India," said Mr Hakim.
Brother of Abdul Hakim, Abdul Qaiyum also works for Indian hospitals as a middleman.
The middlemen send patients to Indian hospitals including Peerless, Birla, Tata, Appollo, TRA General Hospital, Apex General Hospital, Lelavati General Hospital, Ganga Ram etc.
According to Abdul Hakim, many hospitals in Kolkata survive solely on Bangladeshi patients. 40-60 per cent of their revenues come from these patients.
The patients who have earlier taken treatment at Kolkata hospitals get offer from those hospitals to take new patients there on commission. Hasan Shaheen is one of them.
 After his treatment for urological problems he has turned into a professional medical guide, assisting patients from Bangladesh in their efforts for getting Indian treatment. He went to India 18 times accompanying patients picked for treatment at Ganga Ram hospitals, from where he gets commission.
According to sources at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, each year around 6 million Bangladeshis go to India, of which 80 per cent go for medical treatment. Â
A recent study by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) forecasts the medical tourism sector will more than double from the present $800 million to $2 billion by 2015, and patient inflow will shoot up from 850,000 to 3.2 million in the same period.
The thriving medical tourism has also prompted a host of private players in healthcare, including global brands like Gleneagles, Columbia Asia, and Wockhardt, to set up hospitals and 'medicities' spread over acres of land with add-on facilities like caregiver accommodation, pharmacies, and restaurants.
To compete with them, regional facilities like Hinduja Hospital or Beach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, Peerless Hospital and R N Tagore Institute for Cardiac Treatment in Kolkata have opened international business divisions.
Many Indian hospitals have tie-ups with Bangladeshi doctors and healthcare facilities. Many doctors reportedly refer Bangladeshi patients to Kolkata doctors or hospitals.
The travel and tour agencies also design plans for medical tour of India. They also have active connection with hospitals there.
Heavenly Tour is one such tour agencies, which regularly makes arrangements for the patients and relatives for visit to Kolkata and different Indian hospitals.
Managing Director of Heavenly Tour Badrul Kawsar said annually he makes arrangements of India visit for around 2000 patients.
He has contact with hospitals, hotels, resorts and other accommodation facilities in Kolkata.
Middlemen\\\'s syndicates luring BD patients to Indian hospitals
Ismail Hossain | Published: May 17, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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