How to Admit a Patient to Bumrungrad Hospital from Dhaka — Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Admitting a patient to Bumrungrad International Hospital from Bangladesh involves several coordinated steps — from securing the right medical visa and preparing your clinical documents, to arranging the transfer and registering at the hospital. This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process so you can focus on your loved one's recovery.
A Bangladeshi patient can be admitted to Bumrungrad International Hospital by first obtaining a medical visa (or eVisa) from the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka, submitting a completed online appointment and medical records through Bumrungrad's international admissions desk or with the help of an air ambulance coordinator, and then travelling — either via a commercial flight with a medical escort or via a dedicated ICU air ambulance for critical cases — directly to the hospital's International Patient Services counter at the main building on Sukhumvit Soi 3, Bangkok.
Why Choose Bumrungrad International Hospital for Treatment?
Bumrungrad International Hospital is one of the most trusted destinations for Bangladeshi patients seeking advanced medical treatment abroad. Located in central Bangkok, it is one of the largest private hospitals in Southeast Asia, JCI-accredited and serving over 1.1 million patients annually from more than 190 countries. For families in Dhaka facing a complex diagnosis — oncology, cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, or organ transplantation — Bumrungrad offers a level of multidisciplinary care that is often not immediately available in Bangladesh.
The hospital's International Patient Services department handles hundreds of admissions from Bangladesh each year, which means the processes for documentation, visa support, and financial clearance are well established. However, "well established" does not mean "automatic." There are still several hurdles a family must clear — clinical records that meet Thai medical standards, a visa application that accounts for the patient's mobility limitations, a transport plan that matches the patient's stability, and a cost estimate that avoids surprises on the day of discharge. This guide covers every one of those steps.
If you are also evaluating other hospitals in Bangkok, our overview of Bangkok hospitals accepting international patients compares Bumrungrad with Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital, and BNH — but for the purposes of this article, we focus exclusively on Bumrungrad's admission pathway from Dhaka.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Hospital Selection
The first step is not booking a flight — it is confirming that Bumrungrad's specialists can actually treat the patient's condition. You or your referring doctor in Dhaka should initiate contact with Bumrungrad's International Patient Services (IPS) through their online enquiry form, by email to ips@bumrungrad.co.th, or via their 24-hour call centre at +66 2066 8888. For Bangladeshi patients, it is often faster to work through a medical travel coordinator who has a direct line to the IPS team and can fast-track the clinical review.
You will need to submit the following initial documents for specialist review:
- Summary of current diagnosis — including the primary condition, any comorbidities, and the reason for seeking treatment abroad.
- Recent investigation reports — blood work, imaging (CT, MRI, X-ray), ECG, echocardiogram, or biopsy reports as relevant to the condition.
- Current medication list — generic names, dosages, and frequency for every drug the patient is taking.
- Referring doctor's letter — a formal referral from the treating physician in Dhaka explaining why the patient needs care at Bumrungrad.
- Patient identification — a clear copy of the patient's passport bio-data page.
Bumrungrad's international medical coordinators will review the records and, within two to three business days, confirm whether the case is accepted and which specialist(s) should be consulted. They will also issue a preliminary cost estimate at this stage.
Step 2: Obtain a Medical Visa for Thailand
Bangladeshi passport holders require a visa to enter Thailand for medical treatment. The most appropriate option is the Medical Treatment Visa (Non-Immigrant MT), which allows a stay of up to 90 days (extendable at the Thai Immigration Bureau in Bangkok).
The application is submitted to the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka (located in Gulshan) or, increasingly, through the Thai eVisa portal. The key supporting documents required include:
- Letter from Bumrungrad International Hospital confirming the appointment, treatment plan, and estimated duration of stay. The IPS team will issue this after the clinical review is complete.
- Proof of financial means — bank statements, a sponsor letter, or a letter from the patient's employer showing the ability to cover treatment and living costs.
- Round-trip flight itinerary (even if the patient intends to return by air ambulance, a tentative itinerary is usually sufficient).
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, with at least two blank visa pages.
- Recent passport-sized photographs (white background, 35 mm × 45 mm).
- Visa application form completed online through the Thai eVisa system or at the embassy.
Processing time is typically five to seven working days. If the patient is too ill to appear in person at the embassy, a medical travel coordinator can arrange for a representative to submit the application on the patient's behalf with a notarised authorisation letter. For urgent cases — for example, a patient who needs to fly within 48 hours — a visa on arrival for medical purposes is not generally available for Bangladeshi nationals, which is why having a coordinator manage the visa filing before the travel date is critical.
Step 3: Plan the Patient's Transport — Commercial Flight or Air Ambulance
Once the visa is in process and the hospital appointment is confirmed, the next decision is how the patient will travel from Dhaka to Bangkok. The right choice depends entirely on the patient's clinical stability.
Commercial Flight with a Medical Escort
For patients who are stable enough to sit upright, are not on supplemental oxygen above 2 L/min, and do not require continuous monitoring, a commercial flight accompanied by a qualified medical escort may be appropriate. Bumrungrad's IPS team can recommend nurses or doctors who can travel with the patient on a scheduled Bangladesh Airlines, Thai Airways, or US-Bangla flight. The patient typically requires a private business- or first-class seat or, for stretcher cases, a block of seats approved by the airline's medical desk. Our broader guide to Bangkok hospital admission for Bangladeshi patients covers the commercial-escort option in more detail.
ICU Air Ambulance from Dhaka to Bumrungrad
For critically ill patients — those on a ventilator, requiring vasoactive drug support, unstable on cardiac monitoring, or deemed high-risk by the referring physician — a commercial flight is not safe. The only viable option is a dedicated ICU air ambulance. The patient travels on a stretcher inside a fully equipped medical jet with a flight doctor, critical-care nurse, and paramedic on board. The aircraft meets the patient at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and flies directly to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, where a ground ambulance transfers the patient to Bumrungrad's emergency or ICU entrance.
Coordinating an air ambulance from Dhaka requires arranging overflight and landing permits, confirming the ICU bed at Bumrungrad, syncing with the hospital's admission desk and the receiving specialist, and briefing the ground ambulance crew on the patient's position for a smooth ramp-to-bed handover. We manage this end-to-end for every Dhaka–Bangkok transfer. You can read more about our complete air ambulance services and medical equipment, and the exact process we follow for each mission.
Regardless of the mode of transport, the golden rule is: do not book travel until Bumrungrad has confirmed the bed and the specialist. Arriving in Bangkok without a confirmed admission slot can lead to long waits in the emergency department, which is dangerous for an unstable patient and stressful for the family.
Step 4: Submit Final Documents and Pre-Register at Bumrungrad
At least 48 hours before the patient's arrival, Bumrungrad's IPS team will ask you to submit a set of final documents to complete the pre-registration. This can be done online or through your coordinator. The documents typically include:
- Completed patient registration form — available from Bumrungrad's website or the IPS office. It covers personal details, next of kin, referring doctor, and insurance information.
- Original passport and visa — scanned copies are accepted for pre-registration; originals will be checked at the hospital.
- Medical records in English — all previous investigation reports and discharge summaries. Bumrungrad requires English-language records; if the referring hospital in Dhaka issued them in Bangla, a certified translation is needed.
- Credit card authorisation or advance deposit — Bumrungrad typically asks for an upfront deposit against the estimated treatment cost, which can be paid by bank transfer, credit card, or cash at the cashier counter in the hospital lobby.
Once the pre-registration is complete, Bumrungrad assigns a dedicated International Patient Coordinator who speaks Bengali or English and will be the family's single point of contact throughout the stay. This coordinator can assist with arranging accommodation for accompanying family members (the hospital has a list of recommended serviced apartments within walking distance), coordinating meal preferences, and scheduling appointments across different speciality departments.
Step 5: Arrival at Bumrungrad — What Happens at the Hospital
When the patient arrives at Bumrungrad — whether by ground ambulance from Suvarnabhumi Airport or directly by private vehicle — the sequence is as follows:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Arrival lobby | The driver drops the patient at Building 1 (Main Building), Sukhumvit Soi 3. For wheelchair or stretcher patients, the valet can arrange a hospital wheelchair and an attendant to assist. |
| 2. International Patient Services counter | A staff member at the IPS counter (Ground Floor, Building 1) checks the pre-registration, collects original passports and the visa, and issues a Hospital ID card for the patient. |
| 3. Specialist consultation | The patient is directed to the relevant clinic or directly to the ward if the case has been pre-arranged as an admission. In most pre-arranged transfers from Dhaka, the specialist meets the patient in the clinic within 30–45 minutes of arrival. |
| 4. Diagnostic work-up | If new imaging or lab work is needed, the coordinator schedules it immediately. Bumrungrad's in-house lab and imaging centre are on the same floor as the IPS counter for efficiency. |
| 5. Admission to ward or ICU | Once the specialist confirms the treatment plan, the patient is admitted to the appropriate unit. For air ambulance patients, an ICU bed is pre-confirmed, and the receiving nurse and doctor are briefed before the aircraft lands. |
Accompanying family members are given a visitor pass and can stay in the patient's room in most wards (Bumrungrad allows one attendant to stay in private rooms; ICU visiting is restricted but the waiting areas are comfortable and monitored).
Costs: What to Budget for Bumrungrad Admission from Dhaka
Treatment costs at Bumrungrad vary widely depending on the condition, the number of investigations, the type of procedure, and the length of stay. That said, Bangladeshi patients planning an admission from Dhaka should budget for three main cost categories:
- Hospital fees: Specialist consultation (THB 1,000–3,000 per visit), diagnostic imaging and laboratory work (THB 5,000–50,000 depending on complexity), inpatient ward or ICU charges (THB 5,000–30,000 per night for a private room; ICU can be THB 20,000–80,000+ per night), and surgical or procedural fees (highly variable — a cardiac bypass may range upwards from THB 500,000, while a straightforward orthopaedic procedure may be THB 150,000–300,000).
- Transport costs: Commercial flight with a medical escort (US$ 800–2,500 depending on seat class and escort level) or an ICU air ambulance from Dhaka to Bangkok (US$ 15,000–35,000 for a door-to-door stretcher transfer with full medical team).
- Accommodation and living expenses: Serviced apartments near Bumrungrad start at around THB 800–1,500 per night for a studio, and food for a companion runs approximately THB 300–600 per day.
Bumrungrad's IPS team will issue a personalised cost estimate before admission. Make sure you request a written estimate that itemises consultation, imaging, procedure, pharmacy, and room charges, and ask about the validity period — some estimates are valid for only 30 days. You can contact our coordination desk if you need help interpreting estimates or comparing them across hospitals.
Step 6: Follow-Up Care and Discharge Planning
Discharge from Bumrungrad requires planning, especially for patients who travelled from Dhaka. The specialist will issue a discharge summary with the diagnosis, procedures performed, medication list, follow-up schedule, and any restrictions. The hospital's pharmacy can dispense a sufficient supply of medications to last until the patient can see a doctor back in Dhaka.
For patients who need to continue medical care in Bangladesh, the IPS coordinator can arrange a referral summary to be sent to the patient's doctor in Dhaka. If the patient is stable enough to fly commercially on the return leg, a medical escort can again be arranged. For patients who remain too unstable for a commercial flight — for example, post-surgical patients requiring ongoing monitoring — a return air ambulance from Bangkok to Dhaka can be organised through the same coordination desk.
How a Medical Travel Coordinator Simplifies Bumrungrad Admission for Bangladeshi Patients
The phrase "Bumrungrad admission for Bangladeshi patients" may sound like a single step, but as this guide shows, it is a chain of interdependent actions: clinical review, visa application, transport booking, pre-registration, financial clearance, arrival coordination, and discharge planning. Dropping any one link delays the entire process.
This is where a medical travel coordinator who specialises in the Dhaka–Bangkok corridor makes a tangible difference. A coordinator can:
- Submit the patient's clinical records to Bumrungrad's IPS team and follow up on specialist review within hours, not days.
- Expedite the medical visa process by liaising with the Thai Embassy and ensuring the hospital letter meets visa requirements the first time.
- Assess the patient's stability and recommend the correct transport mode — commercial flight, medical escort, or ICU air ambulance — and book it without risking the patient's condition.
- Confirm the ICU bed at Bumrungrad before the aircraft departs Dhaka, so there is no gap upon arrival.
- Be present (or have a ground representative present) at Suvarnabhumi Airport and at Bumrungrad to guide the family through admissions, the cashier, and the ward orientation.
- Help with translation, currency exchange, local SIM card purchase, and accommodation booking so the family can focus entirely on the patient.
If you are reading this and thinking, "I do not know where to start", you are not alone — most Bangladeshi families feel the same way when faced with a loved one's critical diagnosis and the prospect of treatment abroad. Our coordination service exists precisely for this situation. We have helped dozens of families from Dhaka navigate the Bumrungrad admission process, and we can help yours too. Visit our process page to see how we work, and contact us for a free initial consultation with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a medical visa for Thailand on arrival as a Bangladeshi citizen?
No. Bangladeshi nationals cannot obtain a medical visa on arrival. You must apply for a Non-Immigrant MT (Medical Treatment) visa at the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka or through the Thai eVisa portal before travel. Processing takes five to seven working days, so plan accordingly.
Does Bumrungrad accept Bangladeshi Taka or require payment in foreign currency?
Bumrungrad's cashier accepts Thai Baht (THB), US Dollars (USD), and major credit cards. They do not accept Bangladeshi Taka. The estimated cost will be quoted in THB, and you can pay by international credit card, bank transfer, or traveller's cheques. Many Bangladeshi families find it easiest to bring USD cash or use a credit card with a sufficient international limit.
How far in advance should I book an air ambulance from Dhaka to Bumrungrad?
For a non-emergency elective admission, we recommend starting the air ambulance booking at least five to seven days before the desired departure date to allow time for permit processing and hospital bed confirmation. For a genuine emergency — acute stroke, heart attack, or sudden deterioration — we can dispatch an aircraft within four to six hours of receiving medical clearance and the hospital's bed confirmation.
Can a family member accompany the patient on the air ambulance?
Yes. Most ICU air ambulance charter jets have one or two passenger seats for family members in addition to the stretcher area and medical crew seats. The family member travels free of charge on most organised transfers. Our team will confirm seating availability when we quote the mission.
What if Bumrungrad does not accept the case after reviewing the records?
If Bumrungrad's specialists determine they cannot treat the patient's condition (for example, if it falls outside their clinical scope or if the patient is too unstable to travel safely), the IPS team will advise you of the reasons. In that situation, we can help submit the records to other Bangkok hospitals such as Samitivej Sukhumvit, Bangkok Hospital, or Siriraj — all of which have robust international patient programmes. Our Bangkok hospitals page gives an overview of each facility's specialities.
Is there a Bengali-speaking coordinator available at Bumrungrad?
Bumrungrad's International Patient Services team includes multi-lingual coordinators, but availability of a Bengali-speaking coordinator specifically is not guaranteed at all times. However, your medical travel coordinator from Dhaka will remain the primary point of contact and can interpret or accompany you to appointments. Having a coordinator who speaks both Bangla and English and knows the hospital layout is a significant advantage for families arriving from Bangladesh.
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Need Help Admitting a Patient to Bumrungrad from Dhaka?
We coordinate the entire process — visa support, clinical records submission, air ambulance or medical escort booking, bed confirmation, and arrival assistance at Bumrungrad. Call or WhatsApp for a free initial consultation.