India has recently halted the issuance of medical visas to Pakistani nationals, leading to the suspension of several critical surgeries. Among those affected are three Pakistani children, aged 3 to 8, who were scheduled for urgent cardiac procedures.
Since 2010, many Pakistani patients have sought life-saving treatments in India, especially for complex organ transplants. However, with the current diplomatic strain, all new medical visas have been suspended, except in life-threatening cases and on strict humanitarian grounds.
Manish Chandra, co-founder of Vaidam Health, confirmed that permissions are now being reviewed case-by-case, with only a few approvals being granted for severe conditions like paediatric heart surgeries.
Medical tourism firms and hospitals are also pausing planned procedures. Medical Linkers, a facilitator for international patients, has postponed three major transplant cases involving Pakistani nationals due to the tightened visa restrictions.
Doctors, too, are feeling the strain. One oncology specialist stated that, while he supports visa requests for critical cases, the present scenario complicates follow-up care and long-term treatment continuity. He advised that Pakistani patients may need to consider other countries for care where travel access is more stable.
Medical travel from Pakistan to India has been on the decline since 2016 due to tighter visa rules. From a high of 1,670 visas in 2016, numbers dropped significantly in recent years only 225 visas have been issued so far in 2024.
While India remains a key destination for Pakistani patients, primarily for liver and kidney transplants and cardiac care, the situation underscores the growing tension in cross-border medical cooperation.
Both Indian medical tourism firms and healthcare providers have expressed their commitment to national interest during these sensitive times. As Sonam Garg Sharma of Medical Linkers put it, “In moments like these, we must stand by our country, even when the decisions are difficult.”
