First group of Bangladeshi patients leaves Dhaka for China

As part of a new beginning in the treatment of Bangladeshis in China, the first group of patients have departed for the Chinese city of Kunming, accompanied by doctors, travel agents, and journalists to oversee the treatment facilities.

The 31-member delegation officially bid farewell at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin saw off the group at the airport before they left for Kunming in the Yunnan province, on a China Eastern Airlines flight.

The Chinese embassy said the delegation includes 14 patients and their six family members, five doctors, five travel agency representatives and a journalist.

In addition to receiving check-ups and treatment, the mission hopes they will also explore the possibility of medical tourism.

The Indian government has restricted visas for Bangladeshi citizens since the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, triggering difficulties for patients regularly visiting India for treatment.

During a visit to China in January, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain said China's Kunming province could be an alternative to India for Bangladeshi patients to receive medical care.

The first group of Bangladeshi patients travelled to Kunming one and a half months after the advisor's visit.

Ambassador Wen said, “China and Bangladesh are partners of comprehensive strategic cooperation, who stand by each other in times of need.

“This visit demonstrates China's commitment to meeting Bangladesh's urgent needs, enhancing medical and health cooperation, and improving people-to-people contacts between the two nations.”

Foreign Secretary Jashim said, “This initiative allows the Bangladeshi people to deeply feel the profound friendship between the two nations.

He highly appreciated the long-standing support and assistance provided by the Chinese government in the fields of public healthcare and humanitarian aid.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations, and we are keen to strengthen ties between our people further.”

The Chinese government has designated three hospitals in Kunming for Bangladeshi patients on the interim government’s proposal.

They are: Yunnan First People's Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, and the Fuwai Yunnan Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

The Chinese ambassador had earlier said in a press conference that work is under way to improve medical service management for Bangladeshi patients, clarify treatment procedures, and create an interpreter team.

However, he could not provide an estimate of treatment costs in Kunming.

Assuring that visas will be arranged for the patients in a single day, the ambassador said on Feb 18: “If a hospital gets clearance, our embassy will issue the visa on the day of application submission.”

Highlighting that Bangladeshi travel agents are involved, he said: “They will launch a package service for patients, which will include visa, air tickets, accommodation in Kunming, food and medical expenses.”