For years, Kolkata was the most natural destination for Bangladeshi patients: close, affordable, Bengali-speaking and well served by dedicated hospital desks. Industry data cited by Al Jazeera suggested that around 60 percent of India’s two million annual international patients were from Bangladesh. In early 2024, Bangladeshis made up 15 to 20 percent of patients at some Kolkata facilities.
Then came the political upheaval of mid-2024 and a sharp tightening of Indian visas. Daily visa slots across Indian visa centres in Bangladesh reportedly fell from more than 7,000 to around 500, and medical visas were mostly limited to critical cases. Many patients turned to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkiye.
A Real Rebound in 2026
This year the picture began to change. By late May, Kolkata hospitals and airlines reported a surge in arrivals after a thaw in relations. One hospital said its daily Bangladeshi patients rose from about 25 to about 60. By early August, Bengali media reported that easing of tourist visas for Bangladeshis was lifting patient numbers in Kolkata hospitals by around 35 percent.
For hospitals that depend heavily on Bangladeshi patients, that recovery was a relief after a very difficult stretch.
The Fire That Changed the Equation
On 19 August, a fire broke out early in the morning at Shikha Inn, a guest house on Mirza Ghalib Street, close to Free School Street. Nine people died, seven of them Bangladeshi. Officials and reports later described a nearly century-old building that housed several other lodgings, with a blocked fire exit.
Joint teams from the fire service, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and police began inspections. Of the 960 hotels and guest houses checked so far, 919 received temporary closure notices, and only 41 met the required fire safety standards. That is roughly a quarter of the city’s nearly 3,700 hotels and guest houses. Those closed must upgrade fire safety systems and obtain a renewed Fire Safety Certificate before applying to reopen.
Why Patients Feel It Most
The areas around New Market, Marquis Street and Free School Street have long served as the base for Bangladeshi patients, attendants and shoppers. When budget places closed, supply shrank, and remaining hotels were reported to be charging up to twice their usual rates. Some arrivals were reported to have spent nights on pavements with their luggage.
The strain falls hardest on cancer patients, who may need weeks of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and repeated hospital visits. Patients who find rooms farther from hospitals pay more for transport on top of treatment costs. The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata issued an advisory on 3 September, urging visitors to check that their hotel is operational and close to the hospital, and not to travel without confirmed accommodation.
Hospitals Step In
Several Kolkata hospitals have started partnering with approved guest houses to arrange safe lodging for Bangladeshi patients. Hospital officials say patient movement has not stopped altogether. One hospital reported a sharp fall in Bangladeshi patients, while another said it had not seen any major decline, which suggests the effect varies by hospital and by how close patients stay to the facility.
Safety Versus Access
The crackdown has a clear purpose. Inspectors found that many owners could not show valid fire safety certificates, police clearances or trade licences, and travellers have reported poor fire-alert arrangements at some guest houses that remain open. Few would argue against stricter safety after a fatal fire. The challenge is to reopen compliant, affordable lodging quickly enough that sick patients are not left stranded. Reports in September said officials had given several hotels a 30-day window to comply, but there was no clarity on reopening dates.
Advice for Patients
Book and confirm accommodation before leaving Bangladesh. Ask your hospital whether it has tie-ups with approved guest houses. Check that the property has a valid fire safety certificate and a usable second exit. Keep copies of your visa invitation letter and medical documents, and budget for higher lodging and transport costs.
The Bottom Line
Kolkata’s medical tourism has found its footing again, but not its full strength. The visa easing opened the door, while the hotel shortage has narrowed it. A faster path to safe, licensed, affordable lodging will decide whether the rebound becomes a full recovery.
