Hospitals in China, particularly Kunming Tongren Hospital in Yunnan Province, are offering advanced, affordable treatment for patients with intellectual disabilities alongside a wide range of specialised medical services.
The hospital, which has successfully treated numerous Bangladeshi patients, combines cutting-edge medical technology with tailored international patient support, making it an emerging healthcare destination for complex conditions.
The hospital authorities said that the number of Bangladeshi patients has been gradually increasing over the past few months due to its particular focus on customised medical and health solutions tailored for Bangladeshi citizens.
Kunming Tongren Hospital vice-president Shen Ling told a visiting Bangladeshi media delegation that a teenage boy from Bangladesh recently received treatment there after his family failed to secure adequate care in neighbouring countries, including India, or found the costs unaffordable elsewhere.
In a video message shared during the meeting, the boy鈥檚 father explained that specialists at Kunming Tongren Hospital had outlined the full treatment plan before starting, enabling the family to proceed with confidence.
Shen Ling emphasised that the hospital had a strong team of doctors and other medical professionals dedicated to treating intellectually disabled children, alongside interpreter services to bridge language barriers.
The 23-member media delegation, led by chief adviser鈥檚 deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, visited Kunming in August 6鈥�9 to review the city鈥檚 medical facilities, with a focus on the hospital鈥檚 customised healthcare services for Bangladeshi patients.
As a Tertiary A category general hospital, Kunming Tongren boasts more than 100 medical experts and 37 clinical departments, including cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and an exclusive health management centre.
During the visit, the hospital showcased its advanced imaging, ultrasound and laboratory facilities, highlighting its operation of a mature multidisciplinary team system to ensure high-quality and safe treatment.
Data showed that the hospital鈥檚 International Medical Department had treated patients from numerous countries, with successful experience in minimally invasive treatment of complex congenital heart conditions, advanced orthopaedic surgeries and refractory internal medicine cases.
Omar Faruque from Jashore travelled to Kunming Tongren Hospital with his cousin, 23-year-old Jannatul Naim, seeking treatment for a persistent back problem that could not be resolved in Bangladesh.
After unsuccessful attempts to find treatment in India, he said that the family turned to China and researched healthcare options online before arriving for extensive diagnostic tests.
The hospital recommended surgery, assuring a full recovery and a return to normal life, eventually completing the procedure successfully.
Omar described the medical care at Kunming Tongren Hospital as very good, saying that doctors鈥� hands-on involvement in patient care, including nursing tasks, such as bed cleaning and wound dressing, were practices he found unimaginable.
He also praised the hospital鈥檚 cautious approach to medication, saying that unnecessary prescriptions were avoided and that the patient had not been given any painkillers after surgery.
Despite the high standard of care, Omar mentioned challenges, including a significant language barrier due to the lack of Bengali interpreters and high cost of food.
According to the hospital authorities, for overseas patients, they offer a comprehensive service model covering three main areas: living support, professional diagnosis and treatment, and protection of patient rights.
This includes airport pick-up, halal meals, prayer facilities for Muslim patients, 鈥榦ne-on-one鈥� accompaniment from consultation to discharge, and the presence of professional interpreters throughout the process.
Patients are given detailed information about their condition, treatment plan and prognosis, with full respect to their right to make informed choices, according to the authorities.
The hospital鈥檚 approach, integrating cultural sensitivity, advanced medical technology and patient autonomy, has earned praise from international patients and families.
Hospital vice-president Shen Ling said that looking forward into the future, they were accelerating the construction of its second-phase project.
She said that in 2026, the hospital鈥檚 new International Medical Outpatient, Inpatient, and Oncology Treatment Centre would come into operation, enabling it to provide higher-quality and more satisfactory medical and health services for patients from outside China.
Shen Ling said that such exclusive services, combining humanistic care with strong professional expertise, were likely to make the hospital an ideal choice for Bangladeshis seeking high-quality and reliable international medical care.
