On this page
Begin in the UAE
Send the history, standing X-rays in DICOM format, reports, medicine list and relevant medical conditions before booking. A preliminary review can outline whether joint replacement appears reasonable, what further tests are needed and which package applies.
The final decision follows examination, current imaging and anaesthetic clearance in Kannur. An acute fracture, dislocation, infection concern or severe new symptom needs local UAE care first.
Choose the correct passport path
- Indian passport: no medical visa is required.
- OCI: check current passport, OCI and entry requirements.
- Foreign passport: check e-Medical eligibility or the regular Medical visa route on the official Government of India portal.
Residency in the UAE does not by itself decide the Indian entry route. The passport or OCI status does. Check that the name, passport number and nationality in any hospital letter match the travel document exactly. A foreign-passport patient should also check whether a UAE residence permit must remain valid for the return journey.
If a family member is travelling, confirm that person's entry route separately. Do not assume that the patient's medical documentation covers a companion.
Foreign-national patients and companions, including OCI holders, submit an e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival. Indian-passport travellers are a different category.[4]
Turn the remote review into a usable plan
A clear first message saves time. State which joint is affected, how long symptoms have been present, how far you can walk, whether you use a stick and what treatment you have tried. Add any history of heart or lung disease, diabetes, blood clots, kidney problems, allergy, previous surgery and current blood-thinning medicines.
For knee replacement assessment, standing knee X-rays are usually more useful than a photographed report alone. For hip assessment, send the original hip and pelvis images. If an MRI or CT has been done, include the DICOM files as well as the written report. A mobile-phone picture of a film may hide details and should not be the only record.
Compare written costs, not country headlines
The current practice ranges are USD 2,500 to 3,000 for unilateral TKR or UKA, USD 4,000 to 4,500 for bilateral TKR or UKA, and USD 2,500 to 3,000 for one primary THR. CORI robotic assistance adds USD 600 once to an applicable package.
The planned admission-to-discharge package covers room, consumables, inpatient medicines, consultations, inpatient physiotherapy, agreed implant, theatre, doctors and anaesthesia. Flights, visa and extra accommodation are separate unless a custom arrangement includes them.
Use the full-trip cost guide to add UAE consultations, travel, companion, local stay, flexible return and rehabilitation at home.
Compare the UAE and Kannur estimates line by line
Ask both providers for the same operation in writing. Confirm whether the plan is a partial or total knee replacement, unilateral or bilateral surgery, or one hip replacement. Record the implant, room category, expected admission, preoperative tests, routine physiotherapy and the circumstances that may change the price.
Follow-up with Dr Vishnu is included and appropriate to the case. Compare the whole treatment journey, including travel, local accommodation and the care available near home, rather than the hospital figure alone.
Robotic assistance adds planning and execution tools for the surgeon. The written estimate should say whether it is included, and CORI will be arranged when needed for surgery.
Check flights live
Kannur International Airport publishes a current schedule, but airline routes and frequencies can change. Search the exact travel dates and allow enough connection time. Do not build the surgical plan around a route that has not been confirmed.
Plan the Kannur stay
The usual inpatient stay for primary replacement is three days. For a flight longer than four hours after uncomplicated unilateral UKA, TKR or THR, the first reassessment is generally 14 to 21 days after surgery. Bilateral knee replacement is generally first reassessed at 21 to 28 days or later.
Book accessible accommodation and a flexible ticket. Airport transfer and accommodation can be coordinated on request.
The accommodation checklist checks the route from vehicle to room, bathroom, bed, meals and transport against the expected walking aid. A pleasant room can still be difficult to use after surgery.
Keep the early local stay quiet. It is for wound review, walking practice, medicines and recovery. It should not be planned as a sightseeing stop.
Prepare the return to the UAE
The departure handover should bring together the discharge and operation records, implant labels, imaging, medicines, clot-prevention plan, wound instructions and rehabilitation restrictions. Agree who will receive it in the UAE and which clinician can provide early assessment.[5]
There is no formal Gulf follow-up or referral arrangement. Local care is agreed individually with a clinician and physiotherapist. The handover sheet keeps the relevant surgical details together.
For the airport, request assistance in advance rather than relying on availability at check-in. Keep medicines in labelled packaging and carry the prescription or discharge document. During travel, follow the individual movement, hydration and clot-prevention instructions given at flight reassessment.
Allow enough leave from work
Hospital discharge and readiness for employment are separate. The answer depends on the operation, the physical demands of the job, the commute and whether the patient can work remotely. A desk-based role may still be difficult if it requires a long drive or prolonged sitting soon after return.
Plan leave around the complete India stay and the first period at home, not just the three inpatient days. Keep some flexibility in case the wound, swelling, mobility or flight assessment takes longer than expected.
Three common UAE patient routes
| Status | Main planning task | Do not overlook |
|---|---|---|
| Indian passport holder | Clinical review, flights, leave and home care | Passport validity and UAE return requirements |
| OCI holder | Check passport and OCI documents | Current entry and return rules |
| Foreign passport holder | Use the current medical-visa route | Hospital letter details, granted ETA and companion status |
These are administrative starting points. The medical pathway remains the same: record review, in-person confirmation, anaesthetic clearance and an individual return assessment.
Plan UAE care before paying for travel
Identify the doctor or clinic that can assess a wound, painful calf, fall or sudden change after return. Reserve physiotherapy and ask whether a referral or insurer authorisation is needed. A remote review from Kannur cannot replace examination in the UAE. Neither a shared hospital name nor an insurance card automatically establishes that arrangement.
Check ordinary travel insurance and any UAE health-insurance terms separately. Planned surgery abroad and its complications may not be covered. Obtain written answers rather than assuming that an active insurance card applies.
Final UAE to Kannur checklist
- The source images and medical history have been reviewed.
- The passport or OCI route has been confirmed.
- The written estimate matches the operation and implant plan.
- The ticket and accommodation can be changed.
- The room has safe access for the expected walking aid.
- A UAE doctor and physiotherapist are ready for follow-up.
- The work and companion plan allow for a longer stay if needed.
Confirm the date
A preferred date can be discussed at any time. Confirmation depends on completed review, travel, in-person clearance, hospital capacity and CORI availability when robotic assistance is planned.
