Arriving in Delhi for Treatment: A Patient and Attendant Checklist
· 6 min read · Arrival
The first 48 hours in a new country set the tone for the entire treatment. This checklist is what we give every family flying into Indira Gandhi International Airport for care in Delhi NCR.
Carry these in hand luggage, never checked
If a bag goes missing, these are the items that would stop treatment:
- Passport, printed visa and the hospital invitation letter
- Original imaging films and the full set of medical reports
- Current medication in original packaging with prescriptions
- Proof of funds or sponsorship documents and the admission deposit method
- Contact details for your coordinator, written on paper as well as on your phone
What happens at the airport
Immigration for medical visa holders includes verification of the hospital details, so keep the invitation letter accessible. Wheelchair or ambulance assistance must be arranged in advance with the airline and with the ground team.
Our coordinator waits at arrivals with a name board, day or night, and you receive their name and photograph before you fly so you know exactly who to look for.
Your first week, hour by hour
This is the sequence we run for a typical surgical admission in Delhi NCR.
| When | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival, any hour | Coordinator meets you at arrivals with a name board; wheelchair or ambulance as pre-arranged | Ekalinga coordinator |
| Arrival + 1 hour | Private transfer to your hotel or serviced apartment near the hospital | Ekalinga coordinator |
| Day 1 | Indian SIM activated, currency exchanged, local pharmacy and food options shown | Ekalinga coordinator |
| Day 1 – 2 | Consultation with the treating consultant; reports and imaging reviewed in person | Hospital, with interpreter |
| Day 2 – 3 | Baseline investigations repeated on hospital equipment and pre-anaesthetic assessment | Hospital |
| Day 3 – 4 | Admission, deposit paid, consent explained in your language, surgery scheduled | Hospital and coordinator |
| Within 14 days | FRRO registration filed for the patient and every attendant | Ekalinga coordinator |
Forex, SIM and staying reachable
Exchange currency at published rates rather than at the first counter you see, and activate an Indian SIM on arrival day so family at home can reach you from the first hour. Keep a small amount of cash for hospital canteens and local transport.
Admission day
Expect registration at the international patient desk, passport and visa verification, the initial deposit, a pre-anaesthetic assessment and repeat baseline investigations even if you carry recent ones. Indian hospitals routinely repeat critical tests on their own equipment before surgery.
Ask for the consent form to be explained in your own language and take the written medication schedule at discharge, not verbally.
FRRO within 14 days
Registration applies to the patient and every attendant on a medical visa and must be completed within 14 days of arrival. Bring passport copies, visa copies, photographs, the hospital undertaking and proof of your accommodation address.
For the attendant, during recovery
Book accommodation within walking distance of the hospital with a kitchen if the patient is on a restricted post-operative diet. Plan for the recovery weeks after discharge, not just the admission days, and confirm the fitness-to-fly date with the surgeon before changing return tickets.