The recent political unrest in Bangladesh has had a major effect on pharmaceutical commerce and medical tourism between Bangladesh and India. Major Indian hospital networks’ executives have reported a sharp decline in Bangladeshi patients traveling to India for medical care, with some facilities reporting a 50% patient decline. Many patients have canceled or postponed their vacation plans as a result of Bangladesh’s ongoing political unrest, which is blamed for this reduction.
Bangladeshi patients are increasingly choosing Indian hospitals because of their excellent medical care at reasonable prices. The present political unrest has, however, halted this pattern. A well-known hospital chain in India, Fortis Healthcare, reported a significant decline in the number of patients arriving from Bangladesh and expressed optimism that things would recover once the political climate stabilizes. Hospitals that get a substantial number of patients from Bangladesh have been negatively impacted, according to an unnamed hospital executive. One executive reported a 20% decrease in patient arrivals, while another cited a 5% dip in revenue and a 30% drop in patient volumes.
In addition to impacting medical travel, the situation may have an impact on the pharmaceutical industry. Bangladesh obtains thirty percent of its active pharmaceutical components and raw materials from India, a neighboring country, making it a major supplier of pharmaceuticals to Bangladesh. Political unrest poses a risk to this supply chain, which could result in higher prices, delays in the availability of medications, and disruptions in the flow of necessary medications. The pharmaceutical sector, comprising huge corporations and smaller businesses, is susceptible to negative consequences from these trade disruptions.
All things considered, the pharmaceutical industry in India and the medical tourism sector are suffering significant setbacks as a result of the political unrest in Bangladesh. The fewer patients from Bangladesh who are being admitted to Indian hospitals and the possibility of interruptions in the supply of pharmaceuticals draw attention to the wider economic effects of political unrest. Both industries are hoping for a return to normalcy as the crisis develops, as this might stabilize trade relations and increase patient volumes.
SOURCE :
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
