International patient department: a hospital’s overseas desk

What an Indian hospital’s international patient department does, from visa invitation letters to interpreters, and how it works with your own case manager.

Glossary term · Hospital & care

By Nikhil Sharma, Founder · Updated · How we write and check

Definition

International patient department (also: IPD (international), International patient services, International desk): An international patient department is a hospital team that handles enquiries, visa letters, scheduling and practical support for patients travelling from abroad.

An international patient department is the hospital team that looks after patients travelling from abroad. It handles enquiries, estimates, visa invitation letters, airport arrangements and interpreters. Under a Ministry of Home Affairs system, registered hospitals generate medical visa invitation and extension letters on the official Medical and Ayush Visa Portal. The department is usually your contact for these.

What does the department usually handle?

  • Sharing your reports with specialists and returning their opinion.
  • Issuing the cost estimate.
  • The hospital letter for your e-Medical or paper medical visa.
  • Extension letters if your stay must be longer.
  • Scheduling, airport pickup and accommodation advice.
  • Interpreters, payments and discharge paperwork.

What should the visa letter show?

The e-Visa portal says the hospital letter should be on letterhead and show the tentative admission date and the patient’s name, nationality and passport number. Check these details against your passport before you apply.

How does it work with an independent case manager?

The international desk works for its own hospital. An independent case manager helps you compare hospitals before you choose. Once you choose, both usually work together on dates, documents and travel.

Form C

Hospitals and accommodation providers must report foreign guests on Form C. The international desk usually takes care of this for admitted patients.

Questions people ask

Is the international desk staffed by doctors?

The desk may be run by coordinators and interpreters rather than treating doctors. Medical questions should go to the specialist. Ask the desk to arrange a call or a written reply from the doctor when you need one.

Can the international desk change my appointment dates?

Yes, the desk coordinates scheduling with the specialist and theatre. Give as much notice as possible, because changes affect visa dates, flights and your attendant’s plans. Ask for any new dates in writing.

Sources

General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.

More glossary

Admission deposit

An admission deposit is an advance payment a hospital may ask for at or before admission, adjusted later against the final bill.

Case manager

A case manager is a non-clinical coordinator who guides a patient through the practical steps of treatment, from sharing reports to follow-up after returning home.

Hospital cost estimate

A hospital cost estimate is a written projection from a hospital of the expected charges for a proposed treatment, based on the reports it has reviewed.

Informed consent

Informed consent is a patient’s voluntary permission for a test or treatment, given with capacity after an explanation of its benefits, risks and alternatives.

Inpatient care

Inpatient care is treatment given after a formal admission to hospital, usually involving at least one overnight stay under a doctor’s order.

Intensive care unit (ICU)

An intensive care unit is a specialist hospital ward that treats and closely monitors people who are very ill, often with support for one or more organs.

Free Case Review

Send us your reports. We’ll do the rest.

A case manager reviews your reports, shares them with suitable accredited hospitals and comes back with treatment options, the specialists involved and written estimates — free, with no obligation.

Start your case review