What to bring
Bring your original medical records and imaging, your passport with the visa and a printed hospital letter, enough money in an accessible form to cover the first few days, and a month's supply of any medication you already take. Most other things can be bought in India, usually more cheaply than at home.
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Documents
Carry these in your hand luggage, never in a checked bag.
- Passport with your visa, plus a printed copy of the e-Visa approval
- The hospital invitation letter, printed
- All original medical reports, and a set of copies
- Imaging on CD or a USB drive. Indian hospitals will usually want the original scan files rather than printed films. Ask your hospital at home for the DICOM files.
- A referral letter from your doctor at home
- Your attendants' documents and proof of relationship
- Travel and accommodation bookings
- Six spare passport photographs in the Indian visa format, for the FRRO and hospital registration
- Insurance documents, if you have cover
Keep digital copies in your email as well. Passports get lost.
Money
Bring some cash for the first two or three days: the airport transfer, food, a SIM card, and incidental costs before your bank cards are working smoothly.
Do not carry your treatment money as cash. It is unsafe, it may exceed customs declaration thresholds, and reputable hospitals accept bank transfer and card. Ask your bank about international transfer timings before you fly, because transfers from some countries take longer than people expect. Tell your bank you are travelling, or your card will be blocked at the worst moment.
You pay the hospital directly, and we never handle your treatment money.
Medication
Bring a month's supply of anything you already take, in the original labelled packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Do not decant tablets into unlabelled containers.
Carry a written list of every medication with its generic name, dose and frequency. Brand names differ between countries, and the generic name is what an Indian doctor will recognise.
If you take controlled medication, such as strong painkillers or certain psychiatric drugs, carry the prescription and a letter from your doctor. Rules on bringing these into India are strict.
Phone, clothing and the rest
Get an Indian SIM card at the airport or in the first day or two. You will need your passport and visa to register it. Indian mobile data is inexpensive and reliable, and it is how your case manager will reach you. Bring a universal adapter, because India uses type C, D and M sockets, and a power bank, because hospital sockets are always in the wrong place.
Loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to get on and off if you are having surgery. Something warm, because hospital air conditioning is aggressive and Delhi in December is genuinely cold. Modest clothing is appropriate in most public settings. Slip-on shoes make everything easier.
Do not bother bringing large quantities of toiletries, bottled water, most over-the-counter medicines, towels and bedding, or food. All of it is available locally and cheaper.
For the attendant
You will spend more time in a chair beside a bed than you expect. Bring something to read, a charger, a light blanket or shawl, and your own medication. Look after yourself, because patients do better when their attendant is not exhausted.
Food and diet
Tell us before you arrive if you need halal, vegetarian, Jain, low-salt, diabetic or renal food. All of it is available and we arrange it, but arranging it in advance is much easier than at nine in the evening on your first night.
If you are used to a particular staple from home, mention it. Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai all have African, Arab and Central Asian food, and being able to eat something familiar during a long recovery matters more than people anticipate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my own medical equipment, such as a CPAP or wheelchair?
Yes. Tell the airline in advance, and tell us so we can arrange transport that fits.
Do I need vaccinations?
Check current requirements for your route. Some travellers arriving from certain countries need proof of yellow fever vaccination. Confirm with the Indian mission in your country.
Can I drink the tap water?
No. Use bottled or filtered water, including for brushing your teeth. It is inexpensive and available everywhere.
What if I forget something?
Almost everything can be bought within an hour of where you are staying, and your case manager will help you find it. The only things that are genuinely hard to replace are your documents and your imaging files.
Last checked 22 July 2026.
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