India
Bhutan
Why patients from Bhutan travel abroad for treatment
Bhutan's national health service provides commendable primary and secondary care across the country, yet access to highly specialised procedures remains limited by geography and infrastructure. Complex interventions — including advanced cardiac surgery, multi-modality cancer treatment, organ transplants, neurosurgery, and high-risk obstetric care — are either unavailable domestically or available only at limited capacity, meaning patients who need them must look beyond Bhutan's borders. This is the primary driver of outbound medical travel from Bhutan: not dissatisfaction with local care, but a straightforward gap between what is needed and what can currently be provided close to home.
India sits at a natural intersection of proximity, language familiarity, cultural affinity, and clinical depth. Flights from Paro are short, the cost of treatment and daily living is a fraction of what patients would face travelling to Europe, South-East Asia, or the Gulf, and Indian hospitals across cardiology, oncology, transplantation and fertility offer internationally accredited care. For Bhutanese patients and their families, India represents the most accessible route to advanced treatment without the burden of crossing vast distances or navigating wholly unfamiliar environments.
India is increasingly being trusted for medical care
Specialties for which patients generally travel to India
Heart treatment leads the corridor — across Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology, patients from Bhutan most often travel for Coronary Angioplasty & Stenting, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Heart Transplant Surgery, Heart Valve Replacement Surgery, Pacemaker Implantation and TAVI / TAVR.
Fertility & women's health is another major draw: Infertility & IVF, with Donor Egg IVF, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) and IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) Treatment among the most sought treatments.
Many patients also come for Cancer care — Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology — particularly Chemotherapy for Cancer and Targeted Therapy for Cancer.
Bone & joint care completes the picture across Orthopedics, most commonly for Knee Replacement Surgery.
Popular Hospitals for Bhutan patients in India
Accredited partner hospitals — specialties, doctors, facilities and accreditations. →
Medical visa from Bhutan to India
You do not need a visa to travel to India. Bhutanese citizens are exempt from Indian visa requirements. There is no online application, no visa fee and no waiting period.
Carry a valid passport or your Bhutanese Citizenship Identity Card. A passport is the more practical choice for a medical trip — hospitals, airlines and banks in India all accept it without question.
You do not need an invitation letter for immigration purposes. We still provide a hospital appointment letter free of charge for your records and for the admissions desk.
Visa position verified on 28 July 2026 against the official source. Requirements can change — we re-confirm yours before you apply.
What to bring
- Medical reports & scans — all recent reports, imaging (on disc or drive), prescriptions and discharge summaries, ideally also as digital copies;
- Passport & photos — valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, plus a few passport-size photographs;
- Current medicines — in original packaging, with the prescriptions that cover them;
- A letter from your local doctor — diagnosis and treatment history, if available;
- Payment — an internationally enabled card and/or US dollars; hospitals accept both, and our team advises on the best way to pay;
- Comfortable clothing — loose, layered clothes for hospital stays and recovery;
- Passport & hospital papers — your passport and the hospital invitation letter; no visa is needed for your nationality;
- Your companion's documents — passport and photographs.
Getting to India from Bhutan
Most patients travelling from Bhutan to India depart from Paro International Airport (PBH), the country's only international airport. Travellers making their way from Thimphu or Phuentsholing typically reach Paro by road before boarding their flight. Direct and one-stop connections link Paro to key Indian medical hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru — round-trip economy fares generally fall between $100 and $250. Druk Air (Bhutan's national carrier) and Bhutan Airlines both operate direct flights from Paro International Airport to New Delhi (approximately 2 hours 20 minutes) and Kolkata (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes), with Druk Air additionally serving Guwahati (approximately 45 minutes) and Bagdogra in northeastern India. Druk Air operates daily flights to Delhi and four weekly flights to Kolkata; Bagdogra is served twice weekly. There are no direct flights from Paro to Mumbai, Chennai, or Bengaluru — passengers travelling to those cities typically connect via Kolkata or Delhi. Schedules and frequencies are subject to seasonal change, so confirm the latest timetable directly with Druk Air (drukair.com.bt) or Bhutan Airlines before booking. Whichever city you arrive in, Ginger Healthcare arranges an airport meet-and-greet, handles transfers to your accommodation or hospital, and ensures someone is on hand to help your family settle in from the moment you land.
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Planning the cost of treatment in India
Planning a medical journey involves more than booking a hospital appointment — there are several distinct cost heads to account for, and understanding each of them in advance makes the entire experience far less stressful, particularly when you are far from home.
- Treatment cost: Varies according to diagnosis, the specific procedure required, the hospital chosen, and the treating doctor's fees — this is typically the largest single item.
- Return airfare: Economy round-trip fares from Paro to major Indian medical hubs typically fall in the range of $100–$250, making India one of the most accessible destinations for Bhutanese patients.
- Accommodation outside the hospital: Whether you need a few nights before admission or a longer recovery stay, options range from budget guesthouses at around $25 per night through mid-range serviced apartments at roughly $40, to premium four- and five-star hotels at approximately $90 per night.
- Food, local transport, and daily expenses: Day-to-day costs — meals, taxis, incidentals — typically run around $15 per person per day in most Indian cities.
A realistic, consolidated estimate drawn up before you travel lets you arrange finances calmly, without unwelcome surprises arriving alongside medical stress. That is precisely why Ginger Healthcare developed the Medical Tourism Cost Calculator — a first-of-its-kind tool that produces a tentative estimate of your complete cost, covering treatment, travel fare, and stay in a single figure. Dedicated counsellors are available around the clock to walk you through the numbers and answer any questions.
| Procedure | Indicative cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Chemotherapy for Cancer | $500 - $2,000 |
| Coronary Angioplasty & Stenting | $4,500 - $7,000 |
| Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) | $3,500 - $7,000 |
| Heart Valve Replacement Surgery | $5,000 - $9,000 |
| IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) Treatment | $2,500 - $4,500 |
| Knee Replacement Surgery | $5,000 - $14,000 |
Indicative ranges for international patients — each procedure links to its detailed page. The final estimate depends on your medical reports, the hospital and the doctor.
🧮 Medical Tourism Cost CalculatorTreatment + visa + travel fare + stay — one tentative estimate, free. Estimate now →
Frequently asked questions — Bhutan
Which Indian cities are best suited for Bhutanese patients seeking advanced treatment?
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru are the principal destinations, each hosting hospitals with strong departments across cardiology, oncology, transplantation, and other specialised fields. Kolkata is often the closest option for patients from eastern Bhutan, while Delhi offers the broadest range of tertiary-care facilities. Ginger Healthcare can recommend the most appropriate city based on your specific diagnosis and treatment plan.
How much should I budget for accommodation and daily expenses in India?
Accommodation near hospitals ranges from around $25 per night for a budget guesthouse to $40 for a comfortable mid-range serviced apartment and approximately $90 for a premium hotel. Daily food and local transport typically come to around $15 per person. Ginger Healthcare's Medical Tourism Cost Calculator can help you put together a consolidated estimate before you travel.
Will language be a barrier during my treatment in India?
English is widely used across Indian hospitals — for medical consultations, discharge summaries, and administrative paperwork — so most Bhutanese patients find communication straightforward. Ginger Healthcare's care coordinators are also available around the clock to assist with any communication needs throughout your stay.
Do I need a visa to travel to India for treatment?
No. Citizens of Bhutan do not require a visa to enter India. There is no online application, no visa fee and no waiting period. Carry a valid passport — hospitals, airlines and banks in India will all ask for it, and it makes admission and payment far simpler. Confirm the current position at indianvisaonline.gov.in, and we will confirm it with you personally before you travel.
Can a family member travel with me?
Yes, and they do not need a visa either. We provide a hospital appointment letter free of charge for everyone in your travel party — immigration does not require it, but the hospital admissions desk will ask for it — and we help you plan accommodation for the whole stay.
Google Reviews
What patients say about treatment in India & experience with us
CHENCHO“Mr. Emad Hussian has served us well. He kept us well informed of the appointment and always make sure that we are satisfied the with service provided by the Max hospital. We are very happy to get Mr. Emad as our guide and we look forward get him as our guide in future.”
Tshetrim Dorjeeh“The service they provide was really good .. thank you team. Especially if you are visiting for first time it will get you to the doctor u need and get treated at time. Which saves our time and energy of looking for it. I would highly recommend and suggest everyone. Thank you the team @ Ginger healthcare private Ltd.”
Nikhil Bhutani“Worried about finding the right doctor or hospital for health issues? Contact Ginger Helathcare.. Team of dedicated and expert professionals do a thorough analysis of your health issues and suggest the optimum solution as per you need, budget and geographical location. Excellent service. Keep up the good work.”
Mirwais Kamawal“I had a great experience with this health service company. The staff is professional, caring, and truly dedicated to helping people. Their services are reliable, well-organized, and they genuinely put patients’ needs first. Highly recommended!”
Shova Sijapati“It sounds like you're looking for information or assistance regarding your mom's knee surgery at Apollo Hospital and possibly some feedback or reviews about their healthcare coordinators. If you're interested in checking the status of her surgery or the care provided, you should consider contacting the hospital directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information. In terms of Google reviews, you can search for "Apollo Hospital" on Google Maps or through the Google search bar, where you can find patient experiences and reviews related to their services, including the healthcare coordination. If you need any specific information or further assistance, feel free to ask!”
Tazun Nahar“Excellent”