China Eastern Airlines has announced plans to operate direct flights between Chattogram, Bangladesh, and Kunming, China, to assist Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in Kunming`s hospitals. The move aims to reduce the high cost and lengthy travel time that currently hinder access to healthcare in the southern Chinese city.
Kunming`s hospitals, four of which are dedicated to treating Bangladeshi patients, offer affordable medical services, with patients paying the same fees as local Chinese citizens. The availability of flights from Chattogram is expected to make treatment in Kunming more accessible for people from Bangladesh`s eastern regions.
Md Nazmul Islam, the Bangladesh Ambassador to China, emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that it will significantly ease the travel burden on patients. In addition, the civil aviation authorities in Dhaka are working to reduce air ticket costs for flights between Dhaka and Kunming, further enhancing accessibility.
Chinese authorities have also pledged to expand healthcare facilities for Bangladeshi patients. In April, a delegation of journalists from Bangladesh will visit Kunming to explore the medical services firsthand. Last month, several Bangladeshis traveled to Kunming for treatment and praised the high standards of the hospitals, though some expressed concerns about travel expenses.
