Yes, he does. Patients fly in from the Gulf, East Africa, Southeast Asia, parts of Europe. Some come for surgery. Some just want a second opinion before they decide anything. The process itself isn’t complicated. Most people from outside India just don’t know where to start — and that’s genuinely the only thing slowing them down.
Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney has consulted patients from over a dozen countries over 18 years at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai. Brain tumours. Parkinson’s. Drug-resistant epilepsy. Spine. He also speaks more than ten languages, which matters more than people expect on a first call.
Flying in from outside India and need a neurosurgical opinion? Don’t sit on it.
How International Patients Usually Get Started
It’s simpler than most people assume. You don’t need to land in Mumbai first and sort things from there.
- Call or message before anything else: Reach out on +91 8104310753 or email gurneetsawhney@gmail.com. No referral required. No paperwork to submit before anyone will pick up.
- Send your records in advance: MRI on a disc, scans on WhatsApp, a PDF from a hospital abroad — whatever format works. Send it before the call. A consultation where Dr. Sawhney has already reviewed your imaging is a completely different conversation from one where you’re explaining history from scratch. Patients coming in for Functional Neurosurgery in Mumbai — especially for DBS evaluation — consistently use this step to confirm surgical candidacy before booking a flight.
- Get a real answer before you travel: This is what most people miss. You don’t have to be in the room to find out whether surgery is actually the right call. After reviewing your case, Dr. Sawhney will tell you plainly. Come in, or don’t. He’ll say why either way. No vague “we’ll need to examine you in person first” as a default.
- The visit gets coordinated properly: Visa documentation support, scheduling at Fortis Hospital Mulund West, pre-operative workup. You’re not navigating an unfamiliar system by yourself.
What Cases Come From International Patients
Not one type. Several. But certain ones repeat.
- Brain tumour second opinions: Patients who’ve got a diagnosis abroad and aren’t comfortable with the recommended approach. Sometimes the surgical plan changes. Sometimes it gets confirmed. Either way they leave knowing exactly where they stand. If scans have come back unclear or there’s a mismatch between symptoms and imaging, it’s worth reading about whether neurological problems can exist with normal scans before the consultation.
- Parkinson’s and DBS evaluation: Families from the Gulf and East Africa bring Parkinson’s patients to Mumbai because fellowship-level DBS work isn’t available everywhere. This isn’t general neurosurgery. Dr. Sawhney’s training in functional neurosurgery is specific to this — two dedicated fellowships, not a rotation.
- Drug-resistant epilepsy: Years on multiple medications with no real seizure control. Surgical candidacy assessment at this level needs someone trained in epilepsy surgery, not someone who’s done a few cases alongside a broader practice. That distinction genuinely matters.
- Complex spine cases: Disc conditions, cord compression, post-traumatic injuries, failed previous surgeries. A fair number of international spine patients come in after being told elsewhere that nothing more can be done. That’s not always accurate.
- Second opinions: Honestly the most common reason people reach out from abroad. They’ve got a recommendation and they’re not settled with it. One more expert review before committing to something irreversible. That’s reasonable — and straightforward to arrange.
As a Neurosurgeon in Mumbai with 18 years at Fortis and two fellowships from Japan, Dr. Sawhney brings the same depth to every international case. You’re not getting a general opinion because you’re calling from outside India.
Why Choose Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney
International patients have options. Plenty of countries have neurosurgeons. But subspecialty fellowship training at this level combined with Fortis Hospital infrastructure is a specific combination. Not a common one.
Dr. Sawhney completed two separate fellowships in Japan — functional neurosurgery under Prof. Taira at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, and epilepsy surgery under Prof. Sugano at Juntendo University. Two full fellowships in areas most neurosurgeons don’t go deep in. Back in Mumbai, 18 years at Fortis Mulund West working on cases where standard treatment had run out and surgery was the real question. His approach starts from your data. Your scans. Your EEG if there is one. What the symptom pattern actually shows. The answer you get is specific to your case. Not “let’s see how it goes.” International patients especially appreciate that. They’ve usually already had the vague answers at home.
FAQ's
Do international patients need a visa to consult Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney?
Yes, a medical visa is required for in-person visits. The clinic assists with documentation needed to support the visa application process.
Can the first consultation happen online before travelling?
Yes. Dr. Sawhney reviews records and imaging remotely first. He’ll advise whether an in-person visit is actually necessary before you book anything.
What languages does Dr. Sawhney speak?
Over ten languages, so most international patients can consult directly without needing an interpreter.
Where does Dr. Sawhney perform surgeries?
All procedures and in-person consultations are at Fortis Hospital, Mulund West, Mumbai — a fully equipped tertiary care centre with a dedicated neurosurgical unit.
How do patients abroad send their medical records?
Via WhatsApp on +91 8104310753 or email at gurneetsawhney@gmail.com before the scheduled consultation date.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Neurological Diagnostic Tests and Procedures. NINDS, NIH.
- Doraiswamy S, et al. Use of Digital Technologies in Facilitating Healthcare Access. PubMed Central, NCBI.