What to Pack for Medical Treatment in India — A Practical Checklist for African Patients

Packing for a medical trip to India is different from packing for a holiday. Some things matter enormously — missing a document can delay treatment. Other things people stress about — clothing, toiletries — are easily sorted in India if forgotten. This guide covers what actually matters.

Essential Documents — These Cannot Be Left Behind

Passport. Valid with at least six months remaining beyond your travel date. Both the patient and any accompanying family member. Check this before booking flights.

E-Medical Visa. Print the visa approval document. Indian immigration officers scan it on arrival. Have it in hand luggage, not buried in checked baggage.

Hospital appointment letter. The letter Prime Medical obtained from the hospital confirming your treatment. Have a printed copy and a digital copy saved to your phone.

Full medical records. Everything related to your condition:

• All imaging reports (CT scan, MRI, X-ray, PET scan) — the written reports and the actual image files if available on CD or USB
• Biopsy or pathology reports
• Blood test results (the last three to six months)
• ECG and echocardiogram if cardiac
• Current medication list with names and doses
• Any surgical reports from previous procedures
• Any specialist letters from doctors who have seen you

Take originals and keep digital copies on your phone or email. India's hospitals will review all of this. The more complete your records, the less repeat testing is needed on arrival.

Travel insurance documents. Policy number and the insurer's 24-hour emergency contact.

Emergency contacts. Phone numbers for your doctor at home, a family member not travelling with you, and Prime Medical's coordinator.

Medications

Your current medications — full supply plus two weeks extra. Do not assume your medications are available in India in the same form. Some are. Some are not. Some are available under different brand names. Some generic versions in India are different formulations.

Pack enough for your planned trip duration plus at least two additional weeks of buffer in case your stay extends. Keep medications in their original labelled packaging — Indian customs can query unlabelled medication.

Prescription letter from your home doctor. A letter listing all current medications, doses, and the medical reasons for them. This helps India's doctors understand your baseline and helps you if customs questions any medications.

Blood pressure cuff and glucometer if applicable. If you monitor blood pressure or blood sugar at home, bring your devices. India's hospitals have these, but having your own lets you monitor in your accommodation.

Clothing

Pack for the weather at your destination, not for the country generally. Delhi in January is cold — four to ten degrees Celsius. Delhi in June is extremely hot — forty degrees. Bengaluru is mild year-round. Chennai is warm and humid.

For hospital stays:

• Loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to put on and remove — particularly important post-surgery
• A robe or dressing gown for moving around the ward
• Comfortable flat shoes or slippers — avoid anything that requires bending to put on post-abdominally or post-cardiacly
• Compression socks for the flight (important for DVT prevention, particularly post-surgery)

For the companion accompanying the patient:

• Practical, comfortable clothing for time in the hospital and near the hospital
• Something slightly smarter for any administrative meetings at the hospital

Note on dress codes: India's hospitals are conservative in their dress expectations for public areas. Modesty is appropriate. This is not a strict rule but dressing conservatively in hospitals and hospital areas is consistent with the environment.

Electronics and Connectivity

Phone charger and the right power adapter. India uses type D and type M plugs (three-pin round plugs). Ethiopian, Ugandan, Tanzanian, and Gambian plugs may not fit directly. A universal travel adapter is worth bringing.

Laptop or tablet. For longer stays — particularly radiation treatment courses that run five to seven weeks — a device for work, entertainment, and staying in contact with family is essential.

Local SIM card. Get one at Delhi IGI Airport, Mumbai CSIA, or Chennai airport on arrival. Indian SIMs are cheap and give good data coverage in cities. WhatsApp, video calls, and messaging from India to Africa over data is far cheaper than international roaming.

Power bank. Hospitals have charging points but they are not always conveniently placed.

Money

USD, EUR, or GBP in cash. For currency exchange at the airport or in the city. The best exchange rates are typically at dedicated exchange offices rather than airport counters.

Credit or debit card. Major international cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at hospitals and hotels. Keep two cards in case one does not work — some African bank cards face acceptance issues with certain Indian terminals.

Prime Medical will provide a detailed cost estimate before travel. The hospital requires a deposit on admission. Know approximately what that amount is and have the funds accessible.

What You Do Not Need to Bring

Specialised equipment or devices — hospitals supply everything needed for the procedure and recovery. You do not need to bring your own blood pressure cuff, monitoring equipment, or medical supplies.

Excessive quantities of food from home — India has enormous food diversity. Halal food is widely available in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Supermarkets near major hospitals stock familiar staples. Self-catering accommodation allows cooking if that is preferred.

Large quantities of Indian rupees from home — exchange at the airport or local exchange offices on arrival.

For Specific Treatments

Cardiac surgery patients:

Pack loose front-opening tops — pulling clothes over the head is painful and inadvisable for six to eight weeks after a sternotomy. Zip-up or button-front is essential.

Orthopaedic surgery patients:

Loose trousers that fit over a swollen or bandaged leg. Sturdy flat shoes — no flip-flops for the early post-operative period.

Cancer/radiation patients (long stays):

Plan for comfort over five to seven weeks. Books, entertainment, practical kitchen equipment if self-catering. Emotional as well as physical preparation.

Transplant patients:

Prepare the donor as well as the patient. The donor has their own recovery period and their own packing needs. Both need loose comfortable clothing and their own documents.

Prime Medical Coordinates the Rest

Accommodation near the hospital, airport transfers, appointment scheduling, document coordination — Prime Medical handles these so the patient and family can focus on the medical situation rather than the logistics.

To book a consultation, call the number on our website.