From before you go to after you return: a step-by-step guide

The steps

1. First decide whether you really need to go abroad

   Much treatment is done well at home. Get a second opinion from a specialist here. Ask what extra benefit going abroad would give for your condition, and whether the patient is fit to travel.

2. Gather every paper in one place

   Sort reports, image discs, prescriptions and discharge summaries by date. Write your condition and medicine list in English on one page. The checklist and specialty lists below will help.

3. Write directly to two or three hospitals’ international patient desks

   Hospital websites have an “International Patients” section. Send your reports to the email or form there and ask for an opinion and a written quote. No middleman is needed for this.

4. Compare the offers side by side

   See what each hospital includes and leaves out: medicines, implants, tests, room, cost of complications. Compare days of stay and number of visits. Use the question list below.

5. Appointment and travel papers

   Get an appointment or invitation letter from the hospital. Check on the destination’s official embassy or government site whether a visa is needed and what papers it wants (rules change, so we do not list them here). Check the companion’s papers separately.

6. Move money the legal way

   Ask your bank about the rules for taking money abroad for treatment. Do not use hundi or informal channels. Take receipts in the hospital’s name. Keep some extra money in hand.

7. Stay, travel, staying in touch

   Arrange a place to stay near the hospital; many hospitals advise. Carry medicines with prescriptions, after checking the destination’s and airline’s rules. Keep someone at home informed of your schedule.

8. At the hospital

   Some tests may be repeated. Get costs in writing before any big decision. Do not sign a consent form you do not understand; ask for an interpreter if needed. Keep every receipt.

9. When leaving and after you return

   Take the discharge summary and copies of all reports in English. Write down the medicine list, duration and follow-up dates. Show the summary to your doctor at home. Learn which symptoms mean you should call right away.

Find hospitals

Paper checklist

Tick as you go. It is remembered on your phone only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ID & travel

Passports of patient and companion (check validity and blank pages) Travel permission or visa (whatever is required, per official sites) Printout of the hospital appointment or invitation Flight tickets and stay address Passport-size photos Emergency contacts at home and at the hospital

Medical papers

Original reports and one photocopy Scans of all reports on your phone or cloud Image disc or pen drive (X-ray, CT, MRI) Discharge summaries and prescriptions One-page English list of conditions, allergies and medicines Blood group

Money

The hospital’s written quote Money taken through legal bank channels (not hundi) Some cash and a card enabled for international use Extra money for emergencies A folder for all receipts

Before you leave

Enough medicines with prescriptions (after checking destination and airline rules) Phone SIM or roaming sorted Translation app A doctor’s fit-to-travel letter, if needed Tell the airline early if you need a wheelchair or special help Hand over responsibilities at home

Before you return

Discharge summary and copies of all reports Medicine list, duration and dosing rules Follow-up dates and contact details Bills and receipts Image disc or digital images

Print Clear ticks

Extra papers by condition

General & multi-specialty: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• All earlier reports and prescriptions
• List of medicines you take now
• Discharge summaries (if you were admitted before)

Ask the hospital

• Which specialist will see me, and can the time be fixed beforehand?
• Which tests will be done on day one?
• If I email my reports, can I get an opinion first?

Cancer: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Biopsy / histopathology report, with slides and blocks if possible (ask the pathology lab; many hospitals re-read them)
• CT, MRI or PET-CT reports and the image disc (DICOM)
• Blood tests and tumour markers
• Any surgery, chemo or radiotherapy: dates, drug names and doses
• Discharge summaries

Ask the hospital

• What is the stage and how many phases will treatment have?
• How long in total and how many visits? Which parts (chemo, follow-up) can be done back home?
• Are genetic or molecular tests needed, and are they in the quote?
• Can you list drug and therapy costs separately in writing?

Heart: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• ECG and echo reports
• Angiogram or CT angiogram images/disc and report
• Blood tests (lipids, kidney, sugar)
• List of all medicines you take (including blood thinners)
• Card and reports for any earlier stent, bypass, valve or pacemaker

Ask the hospital

• Why is a stent or surgery needed? Is there an option with medicines alone?
• Will you state the stent or valve brand and price separately in writing?
• When will it be safe to fly home?
• Which tests will I need back home, and how often?

Transplant (kidney, liver, bone marrow): what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Blood group and tissue matching (HLA) reports of donor and recipient
• Donor health-check reports
• Proof of relationship (birth or marriage certificate, national ID) and consent forms; the hospital transplant office will say exactly which papers
• Full history of dialysis or illness
• Current medicine list

Ask the hospital

• Under the laws of both countries, which papers and approvals do donor and recipient need?
• How many weeks must we stay after surgery?
• How long will post-transplant medicines last and where can I get them at home?
• Are the donor’s tests, care and stay in the quote?

Kidney & urology: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Serial serum creatinine and eGFR reports
• Urine tests
• Ultrasound or CT
• Type and schedule of dialysis, if any
• Prescriptions

Ask the hospital

• Is there an option without surgery?
• For stones or prostate, which method and how many days in hospital?
• How will dialysis continue once I am back home?

Liver & digestive: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Liver function tests (LFT)
• Viral reports including hepatitis B/C
• Ultrasound, CT or MRI
• Endoscopy report
• Biopsy report, if done

Ask the hospital

• Will treatment be medicines, a procedure or a transplant, and why?
• Which tests will follow-up need, and how often?
• Which medicines must I continue at home?

Bones & joints (incl. replacement): what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• X-ray and MRI images and reports
• Blood tests; recent diabetes and blood pressure readings
• Details of earlier surgery
• Current medicine list

Ask the hospital

• Will you state implant type, brand and price separately in writing?
• How many days in hospital, and where and for how long is physiotherapy?
• When is it safe to fly, and what should I do to prevent clots on a long trip?

Spine: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• MRI of the affected part (whole spine if advised)
• X-rays (standing, if possible)
• Nerve conduction (NCV) report
• Details of earlier treatment and physiotherapy

Ask the hospital

• Can non-surgical options (injections, therapy) be tried?
• What kind of surgery, what risks, and how long to recover?
• What will I need to continue physiotherapy at home?

Neurology & brain: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Brain or spine MRI/CT and reports
• EEG (for seizures)
• Current medicines and doses
• Earlier doctors’ notes; if symptoms come and go, a phone video of an episode helps

Ask the hospital

• Which more tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis?
• Which symptoms at home mean I should contact you right away?
• If rehab is needed, for how long and where?

Eye: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Eye examination reports, OCT and fundus images
• Latest glasses prescription
• Sugar reports if you have diabetes
• Details of earlier eye surgery

Ask the hospital

• Will you state the lens or laser type and price separately in writing?
• How many days must I stay nearby after surgery?
• Where can follow-up be done at home?

Fertility & IVF: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Test reports of both partners (hormones, semen analysis, ultrasound)
• Details of every earlier IVF or IUI cycle
• Marriage certificate
• Medicine list

Ask the hospital

• What is and is not included per cycle (medicines, embryo storage, etc.)?
• How many visits and for how long each?
• How is the success rate counted, and what is it for my age and cause?
• What are the legal rules in both countries?

ENT: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Hearing test (audiogram) or endoscopy report
• CT or MRI
• Details of earlier treatment

Ask the hospital

• Is surgery truly unavoidable?
• For implants (e.g. cochlear): brand, price, and who maintains the device later?

Children: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Birth certificate and vaccination card
• All reports and prescriptions; growth records
• Photos or videos if symptoms come and go

Ask the hospital

• How many parents can stay with the child?
• What are the child-friendly stay arrangements and ward rules?
• Is there an option without surgery?

Plastic & cosmetic surgery: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Photos of the problem (earlier and now)
• Details of earlier surgery
• Allergies and medicine list

Ask the hospital

• What are the surgeon’s qualifications and experience with this operation?
• What is the policy on complications and revision surgery?
• How soon is it safe to fly?

Dental: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Dental X-ray (OPG)
• Details of earlier treatment

Ask the hospital

• Will you give implant or crown brand and warranty in writing?
• How many visits?
• How will follow-up work at home?

Health check-up: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• All earlier test reports
• Family history of illness
• Medicine list

Ask the hospital

• Which tests are in the package and which are not?
• If something is found, what are the next steps and how are extra costs handled?
• Can unnecessary tests be skipped?

Women’s health: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Ultrasound, Pap smear or other test reports
• Details of earlier surgery
• A short record of menstrual cycles

Ask the hospital

• Is there an option without surgery?
• Can I choose a female doctor?

Chest & lungs: what to carry and what to ask

Papers to carry

• Chest X-ray and CT
• Lung function (spirometry) report
• Sputum tests
• Smoking and work history

Ask the hospital

• Which more tests (e.g. bronchoscopy) are needed?
• What are the rules for flying with medicines or oxygen?

Ask any hospital these questions

Ask for answers in writing. One tap copies them so you can paste into an email.

• Which specialist reviewed my reports and what is their opinion? Can I have it in writing?
• Please give the estimated total cost in writing: what is included and what is not?
• How many days in hospital and how many days outside?
• How many visits will be needed? Which parts can be done back home?
• How much advance is needed, how do I pay, and what is the refund policy?
• If complications arise, how will extra cost be handled?
• Will I get a Bangla or English interpreter?
• How does the hospital help with stay for the patient and companion?
• What letter will you provide for travel papers, and how soon?
• Can follow-up be done by email or video after I return?
• If I contact you directly without an agent or middleman, is there any difference in cost?

Copy the questions

Total cost worksheet

We do not assume any prices. Enter the hospital’s written quote and costs you know, and see the likely total. Blank boxes count as 0. Everything stays on your phone.

Hospital quote

Quote total Quote currency (e.g. SGD) 1 unit of that currency = how many BDT? (from your bank)

Stay and local costs (in BDT)

People travelling (incl. patient) Rooms needed Total nights outside hospital Room cost per night Food and local transport per person per day Total days

Travel and other (in BDT)

Return ticket per person, one trip Number of trips Travel papers and other fees, per person Medicines, interpreter, phone and other, total Extra % for the unexpected

Beware of brokers and fraud

• Do not pay an advance to an “agent” found on Facebook or WhatsApp. Write directly to the email or form on the hospital’s own website.
• No one can honestly promise a “100% cure”. Be careful if you hear such a guarantee.
• Get every cost in writing. Do not rely on spoken promises.
• Pay only against a receipt in the hospital’s name.
• Buying or selling organs is illegal and dangerous. Transplants happen only through a lawful donor and the hospital’s own process.
• If you use an agent, ask whether the commission is inside the bill and what it would cost going directly.