Gastroenterology Services
What is Gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is the study of ‘stomach’ (Greek : Gastros = stomach, logia = study)
Technically it involves the study of the digestive tract i.e. food pipe, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and in addition liver, gall bladder, biliary tree and pancreas. Most of the diseases of these organs can be inter related and this leads to a common disease pattern for such disorders.
We believe Gastroenterology in fact deals with complete and holistic medicine as we are what we eat and hence most diseases are directly related to our lifestyle, food intake and disorders of our digestive system.
Who is a Gastro Physician/Gastroenterologist?
A Gastroenterologist is the doctor who has studied the science of these organs and has trained specially after General Medical training to diagnose and treat the disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. A structured training in these specialties is called DM (a Doctoral course in a specialty eg. Gastroenterology, Cardiology etc.) in India and is for a duration of 3 years after MD in Medicine. In UK a training programme for Gastroenterology is for 5 years and includes General Internal Medicine, providing a dual accreditation to the trainee.
During the training, a trainee is exposed to patients with problems of gastrointestinal tract eg. Digestive diseases because of allergies or problems since birth, hyperacidity, hiatus hernia/reflux, structural problems including those due to cancers, infections, previous surgical interventions, congenital or secondary to self-harm (acid ingestion) and even lifestyle (obesity including its management), etc.
Also, a trainee is exposed to liver diseases and other related organ disorders adequately, to provide experience in these fields equipping the doctor to treat conditions like Jaundice, Pancreatitis, Gall stone related diseases which require endoscopic intervention short of actual surgery. Such an exposure gives such doctors an edge over general medical trainees who have to go intensive training in all medical conditions of the human body. Other procedures relating to endoscopy eg. Stent placements in bile ducts or in Gastrointestinal tract, balloon dilatations, foreign body removals etc. are routine practice for the trainees during endoscopy.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Gastrointestinal diseases eg. Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease have had revolutionary changes in their treatment modalities and these are taught to the trainees in Gastroenterology giving them first-hand experience in the use of certain procedures and special drugs which may be otherwise toxic to use and require special protocols.
There are certain viral infections specific to the liver eg Hepatitis A, B, C, E etc. and some of these can cause chronic liver disease similar to that caused by excessive or regular alcohol intake over many years. They have special treatments that keep evolving and hence even experienced practitioners have to stay in touch with newer developments in their field of expertise.
Even long-standing Diabetes is a risk factor for chronic liver disease and hence its management carries immense importance to save the liver as well. Once Cirrhosis (Chronic Liver Disease) sets in, involvement of a Gastroenterologist becomes imperative. Since the liver disease in many cases is silent and found only on routine tests incidentally, it is important to be aware of this and work towards its prevention as a team along with General Practitioner, patient and Gastroenterologist.
There are many Gastroenterologists in Chandigarh practising in government hospitals (eg. PGIMER, Govt. Medical College Hospital, sector 32) as well as many private hospitals all over the tricity.
(Dr. Gurbilas P. Singh practises at Centre for Digestive Diseases (Liver, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centre), No. 88, Sector 16 A, Chandigarh.
Dr. Gurbilas P. Singh also provides clinical services at Sarvhit Gastrocity, Amritsar, and is attached to Paras Hospital Panchkula, and Apollo Clinics, Sector 8. Chandigarh)
Available at:
(with prior appointment please)