Key points

  • Hospitals give better opinions when they receive recent, complete and readable records.
  • Send imaging files, not only reports, and translations where records are not in English.
  • Share records with hospitals only with consent, and through secure channels.

The case review is the most important step in planning treatment abroad. Hospitals in India use the records you send to decide whether they can help, what they would propose and what it might cost. Good records lead to a specific, reliable answer. Incomplete records lead to vague answers, or to tests being repeated after you arrive.

What hospitals usually ask for

  • A summary of the medical history and the current problem
  • The most recent consultation notes and discharge summaries
  • Recent blood and other test results
  • Imaging reports and the images themselves, usually as DICOM files
  • Pathology and biopsy reports where relevant
  • A list of current medicines
  • The patient’s age, height and weight, and any other conditions

The general guide on organising medical records explains how to name and order files.

Translations

Hospitals in India generally review records in English. If records are in another language, a translation of the key documents, especially the summaries and reports, helps the specialist. Translations should be accurate and complete; summaries that leave out details can mislead. See interpreters and language support.

Large files

Imaging files can be large. Use a secure file-sharing method that can handle them rather than email attachments. Some diagnostic centres can provide a download link.

Medical records are personal and sensitive. They should be shared only with the hospitals and specialists reviewing the case, and only with the patient’s consent. When we coordinate a case, we send the patient a secure upload link and share records only with the hospitals the patient agrees to. See our privacy notice.

What you get back

Each hospital usually responds with an opinion, a proposed treatment plan, an estimated length of stay and a cost estimate. Responses are easier to compare when they are set side by side. See planning treatment in India step by step for what comes next, or request a case review.