Bangla flights: Boost likely for med tourism as private hosps expect a surge in patients

Kolkata: The resumption of flights to and from Bangladesh on Sunday have made city private hospitals optimistic about a 20%-25% surge in patient footfall over the next two months. Despite an average occupancy of more than 80% in their non-Covid sections — there has been a spurt in surgeries and procedures post-second wave — most hospitals have issued hundreds of ‘visa invitations’ to patients from Bangladesh who would soon descend on the city for treatment, with many combining a trip of Kolkata with it.

AMRI Hospitals have processed more than a thousand visa invitations for Bangladeshi patients and expects a deluge over the next three weeks. “We expect around 150-200 in-patients and at least 1,000 outpatients from Bangladesh at our three centres by September-end.