Patient services
International Patient Services
Support for patients travelling to Anantapur from abroad — medical visa documentation, treatment estimates before you fly, transport and accommodation for attendants, interpretation, and structured follow-up after you return home.
Planning treatment from another country
Travelling for treatment involves two separate problems: the medical one, and everything around it — visas, flights, money, language, a place for a relative to sleep, and what happens once you go home. The second set is what usually goes wrong, and it is entirely preventable with preparation.
SIMS coordinates care for patients arriving from abroad, most commonly from the Gulf states, South-East Asia and Africa, and for members of the Indian diaspora returning for treatment near family in Rayalaseema. The hospital is in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, on the Bellary–Uravakonda highway, within reasonable road distance of Bengaluru's international airport.
The process begins before you book a ticket. Send your records first, get a clinical opinion and a written estimate, and travel only once there is a plan — not in the hope that one will be made after you land.
Before you travel
- Send your medical records
Share your diagnosis, laboratory reports, scan reports and images, biopsy results, discharge summaries and current medicine list. The relevant consultant reviews them and gives a preliminary opinion on whether the treatment you need can be provided here.
- Receive a treatment plan and written estimate
You will be given an outline of the proposed treatment, the expected duration of stay and an estimate letter covering the anticipated cost. Estimates are based on the information available before examination and can change if the clinical picture is different on arrival — ask for the estimate to state clearly what is and is not included.
- Apply for the correct visa
India issues a specific medical visa category for treatment, and an attendant visa for accompanying family members. The visa is applied for through the Indian mission or the official portal in your country. An invitation or estimate letter from the hospital is usually part of the supporting documentation — request it once the plan is confirmed. Requirements and validity differ by nationality, so verify current rules with the Indian mission rather than relying on any hospital's summary, including this one.
- Confirm dates and arrival details
Share your flight details, arrival airport and the number of attendants travelling. Tell the coordinator about mobility limitations, oxygen requirements, wheelchair needs or dietary restrictions so that arrangements are ready rather than improvised.
- Plan the money
Clarify how you will pay, whether an overseas insurer or embassy is involved, and what documentation they require. Insurers based outside India often need pre-authorisation and their own claim forms; arranging this in advance avoids a dispute during treatment.
What the international desk helps with
Visa documentation
Invitation and estimate letters to support a medical visa application, and letters for visa extension where treatment takes longer than planned.
Airport and local transport
Assistance arranging pickup from the arrival airport and transfers between the hospital and accommodation, including vehicles suitable for a patient who cannot sit comfortably for a long road journey.
Language support
Consultations, consent conversations and discharge instructions are given in Telugu, Kannada, Hindi or English. For other languages, interpretation is arranged where possible — tell the coordinator in advance which language the patient is most comfortable in.
Accommodation for attendants
Guidance on nearby accommodation options in Anantapur at a range of price points, and attendant facilities within the hospital for the relative staying with an admitted patient.
Estimates and billing
Written estimates before admission, interim bills during a long stay, and itemised final invoices in a form that an overseas insurer or employer can process.
Records and follow-up
A complete discharge summary, copies of investigations and imaging, and a written follow-up plan your doctor at home can act on.
What to bring with you
- Passport and visa, with copies kept separately from the originals
- All medical records, scans and images — carry digital copies as well as printouts
- A complete list of current medicines with generic names, not only brand names, since brands differ between countries
- Enough of your regular medication for the journey and the first days, in original packaging with the prescription
- Vaccination records and any known allergies, written down
- Insurance policy documents, the insurer's international contact details and any pre-authorisation reference
- Contact details of your doctor at home, who will need the discharge summary
- An emergency contact number in your home country and one in India
Anantapur has a hot, dry climate, and summer temperatures are considerably higher than most visitors expect — plan for shade, fluids and indoor rest during the middle of the day, particularly for elderly patients. Drink bottled or boiled water. Registration of foreign nationals, where required by visa conditions, is a matter for the local authorities and should be checked against your visa terms on arrival. The hospital cannot advise on immigration compliance.
Common questions
Can I get an opinion before deciding to travel?
Yes, and you should. Send your reports through the contact form or by email. A consultant will tell you whether the treatment you need is available here, what it would involve and roughly how long you would need to stay — before you spend anything on flights or a visa.
Will my overseas insurance be accepted?
It depends on the insurer. Many international policies operate on a reimbursement basis for treatment in India, meaning you pay and claim afterwards with itemised invoices and reports. Some insurers arrange direct settlement if contacted in advance. Confirm with your insurer before travelling and share their requirements with the billing desk.
How is follow-up managed once I go home?
You are discharged with a full summary, investigation results, imaging copies, a medicine list with generic names and a written follow-up schedule. Review consultations can be arranged remotely for questions about progress and reports, though examination-dependent assessments require an in-person visit — either here or with a doctor in your own country.
Getting in touch from abroad
Not sure which department you need?
Share your symptoms and the appointment desk will route you to the right consultant. For anything sudden or severe, do not wait for a callback — come to the emergency department.