The flow of Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in Odisha has witnessed a severe downturn, with recent political tensions and social unrest across the border creating a climate of fear and discouraging travel. Key healthcare institutions in Bhubaneswar, including the premier AIIMS, are reporting a stark drop in numbers, highlighting how geopolitical undercurrents are directly impacting vital people-to-people exchanges in the healthcare sector.
A Stark Drop in Patient Numbers at AIIMS
The data presents a clear and worrying trend. AIIMS Bhubaneswar, which had provided treatment to 25 patients from Bangladesh in 2024, has registered only five such cases in the current year, 2025. This represents a drastic decline of 80%. The institute's medical superintendent, Dr. Dillip Parida, confirmed that Bangladeshi nationals typically seek advanced care in crucial specialties like orthopaedics, paediatrics, and cardiology.
For years, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has been a magnet for international patients, including those from Bangladesh, owing to its powerful combination of high-quality care, affordability, modern infrastructure, and specialist expertise. Pratyush Ray, the state secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), echoed this, noting that the draw has always been access to superior healthcare at costs lower than many other countries, coupled with the availability of expert doctors.
Fear and Political Climate Deter Travel
The current decline, however, is attributed not to a lack of medical merit but to a palpable atmosphere of apprehension. Pratyush Ray pointed out that the ripple effect is being felt beyond public institutions. A prominent private hospital in Bhubaneswar, which usually treats several Bangladeshi patients every year, has not admitted a single one in the last two to three months.
Ray directly linked this downturn to the fear among Bangladeshi citizens of a potential backlash in India. This anxiety stems from widespread reports of attacks on minorities and mob lynching incidents within Bangladesh. The concern is that these reports might make Bangladeshis in India feel vulnerable or unwelcome, causing them to reconsider non-essential travel, even for critical medical needs.
A Strain on Bilateral Relations and Healthcare Diplomacy
This trend underscores a deeper diplomatic strain. Former ambassador Malay Mishra stated that the decline in medical travel is "not surprising" given the currently strained equation between India and Bangladesh. He observed that as narratives of violence against minorities in Bangladesh circulate, it inevitably affects the perception of safety for Bangladeshis in India, making them more cautious.
The situation presents a multifaceted challenge. It impacts the revenue and international outreach of Odisha's healthcare sector, which includes corporate hospitals alongside AIIMS. More broadly, it acts as a barometer for the health of bilateral relations, showing how social and political issues can directly hinder beneficial cross-border engagements like medical tourism, which has long been a soft-power asset for India.
