Indian hospital to set up Tk1,000cr Bangladesh unit

Kolkata-based Desun Hospital on Tuesday announced plans to open a branch in the country with Tk1,000 crore investment noting the Bangladeshi government has already agreed to provide all the necessary support in this regard.

The hospital's Managing Director Sajal Dutta made the announcement at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital on Tuesday, signalling Desun's new plan aims to bring closure to home the quality healthcare services Bangladeshi travellers seek in India.

Sajal said his team has held a meeting with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and the government is ready to extend all kinds of support.

Desun would build a local facility in any one of the Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna and Sylhet divisions over the next five years, if all goes according to plan. Cancer, heart, neuro and gastroliver healthcare services would be provided in the newly constructed hospital as Bangladeshis travel to India chiefly to get these medical services.

Bangladeshi doctors would serve in the facility but Desun would seek to bring in some nurses and technicians from India. Indian doctors would also pay visits occasionally to share experiences with their Bangladeshi counterparts, Sajal informed reporters on Tuesday.

Bangladeshis everyday submit at least 27 thousand applications for getting Indian visas, and the Indian government provides nine thousand visas daily. A large chunk of the visa applications is for availing world-class Indian medical services. In Kolkata, 20% of the patients are Bangladeshis, whereas in Chennai, the share of Bangladeshis is 3-4%. After a Covid-era dip, the influx of patients from Bangladesh is rebounding, Sajal noted.

In this backdrop, Desun wants to provide quality health services at fair prices to reduce hassles for Bangladeshi patients, Sajal Dutta added.