Answer box: Barnala patients who need a gastro doctor can see Dr Raman Garg, a surgical gastroenterologist and laparoscopic surgeon at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute (BGCI), Bathinda, Punjab, India. The hospital is about 70 km from Barnala, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by road. One doctor advises, tests and operates.
Which Barnala situation sounds like yours?
Most people from Barnala do not call us with a diagnosis. They call with a worry. Here are the calls we hear most often, and what usually happens next.
| What you tell us | What it may be | First step |
|---|---|---|
| "Pain on the right side of the belly after dal-parantha, goes to the shoulder." | Gallstones | Ultrasound, then a plan. See gallstone treatment. |
| "Gas and burning every night, antacid no longer works." | Acid reflux or ulcer | Scope test if it lasts over 2 weeks. See gas and acidity. |
| "Blood on the stool after toilet, pain while sitting." | Piles or fissure | Examination, then medicines or a procedure. See piles treatment. |
| "Eyes turning yellow, urine dark, no appetite." | Jaundice | Same-day liver tests. Treat as urgent. |
| "Doctor said fatty liver on the report, what now?" | Fatty liver | LFT and FibroScan, diet plan. |
| "My father is over 55 and has had constipation and weight loss." | Needs a colon check | Colonoscopy. See colonoscopy. |
If your story is not in the table, send it on WhatsApp anyway. We read every message.
Why people from Barnala make the trip to Bathinda
Barnala is a district headquarters with good hospitals for general problems. People still travel 70 km for gastro and laparoscopic care because they want a specialist who has done the exact operation thousands of times.
A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. Dr Raman Garg trained in Ludhiana for MS General Surgery, completed DNB Surgical Gastroenterology at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, and did advanced laparoscopy training in Seoul, South Korea. He has 20+ years of experience and 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries, including 1,000+ laparoscopic hernia repairs. He is a member of IAGES and AMASI.
Think of a retired teacher from Barnala with gallstones and diabetes. She does not want to be passed from a physician to a surgeon to an anaesthetist and back. At BGCI she meets one surgeon for the consultation, the operation and the follow-up. That continuity is why many families from this side of Malwa choose us. Read more on Dr Raman Garg.
Reaching BGCI from Barnala, with a day plan for a patient and one relative
BGCI is at Power House Road, near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001. From Barnala it is about 70 km, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. The usual route runs towards Rampura Phul and on to Bathinda along the main highway.
- By car or taxi: About 1 hour 30 minutes. Leave by 7 AM. A one-way taxi can be shared with another patient from your colony.
- By bus: Buses between Barnala and Bathinda run through the day. Ask at the Barnala bus stand. Plan about 2 hours with stops.
- By train: Train services link the Barnala side with Bathinda, which is a major railway hub. Check timings for the day you travel and take an auto or cab from the station to the hospital.
- For an elderly patient: Take the car, keep a pillow and water, and let the driver stop once on the way.
A plan that fits one day:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Leave Barnala with reports, old prescriptions and your insurance card |
| 8:30 AM | Arrive in Bathinda. If your scope test is booked, stay empty-stomach as told |
| 10:00 AM | OPD with Dr Raman Garg |
| 11:30 AM | Blood tests in the in-house lab, ultrasound with a partner nearby |
| 1:00 PM | Scope test if needed. Scans arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, report reviewed the same day |
| 3:00 PM | Plan explained. Start for Barnala, or book your procedure |
Gastro problems we treat for Barnala patients
| Condition | Where to read |
|---|---|
| Gallstones, gallbladder pain, gallbladder removal | Gallstone treatment, gallbladder removal surgery |
| Acid reflux, GERD, ulcers, H pylori | Acid reflux and GERD, stomach ulcer, H pylori |
| Piles, fissure, fistula | Piles, fissure, fistula |
| Upper scope and colon scope | Endoscopy, colonoscopy |
| Liver, jaundice, pancreas | Fatty liver, jaundice, pancreatitis |
| Appendix, obstruction, GI cancers | Appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, GI cancer surgery |
| Hernia | Full details on laparoscopic hernia surgery in Punjab |
You can browse all conditions at gastro treatment in Bathinda.
How a visit works for out-of-town families
- Day 1 or earlier: WhatsApp. Send your ultrasound, blood report or scope report to +91 82641-60001. Dr Raman Garg's team tells you if it is urgent.
- Video consult for relatives abroad. Many Barnala families have sons, daughters or siblings overseas. They can join an online pre-arrival consultation, hear the plan first-hand and approve the decision.
- OPD. Examination, questions and a clear recommendation. If surgery is not needed, you are told so.
- Tests. Blood and stool tests in the in-house laboratory. CT, MRCP, HIDA or FibroScan are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and he reviews the report the same day.
- Procedure. Scope tests are day-care. Most keyhole surgeries use a stitchless technique with skin glue, and most patients walk the same day and go home within 24 hours.
- After you go home. Follow-up is by phone or video. You come back only if something needs to be examined.
What Barnala patients pay
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| FibroScan (fatty liver stiffness) | 3,000 | 5,000 | 7,000 |
| H pylori stool antigen test | 1,000 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | 7,000 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| Pre-operative blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray | 1,500 | 2,500 | 4,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, difficult or after an attack | 60,000 | 90,000 | 1,40,000 |
| Anal fissure surgery | 28,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 |
| Fistula surgery | 35,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on whether a biopsy is done during the test, the type of anaesthesia, the number of tests needed and your health.
Published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals put keyhole gallbladder surgery at about Rs 40,000 to 90,000, and metro hospitals often charge more. Full list: gastro treatment cost in Bathinda.
Cashless cover for Barnala families
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs, so many Barnala families pay little or nothing at the counter. These include Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, Vidal Health TPA, ICICI Lombard, Raksha TPA, Future Generali, SBI General Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Liberty General Insurance, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandalam MS, Medi Assist TPA, and almost all other major insurers and TPAs.
Steps: share your policy on WhatsApp, the insurance desk requests pre-authorisation, you hear the approved amount before the procedure, and the desk helps close the claim at discharge. Ayushman Bharat: call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used. See cashless insurance for gastro treatment and the blog on Ayushman card and insurance for gastro surgery.
Facilities patients use at BGCI
BGCI has a modern laparoscopic operation theatre and an advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite. A fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory runs blood, liver and stool tests. Comfortable patient rooms are there for patient and family. Emergency care support runs 24/7 on +91 82641-60001, and a cashless insurance desk handles the paperwork. Dr Raman Garg is your single surgeon from consultation to follow-up.
Questions we hear from Barnala
I work shifts in a factory and get Sundays off. Can I be seen on a Sunday? OPD is Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday is emergency only. For a non-urgent problem, send your report on WhatsApp first and pick a Saturday. If you have a red-flag symptom on a Sunday, call at once.
My husband drives a truck on the highway and has acidity all the time. Is it serious? Skipped meals and long hours often cause acidity, and most cases improve with the right medicine and meal timing. If he has black stools, weight loss or trouble swallowing, he needs a scope test. Read acid reflux and heartburn.
Is it safe for a woman in her 30s to have gallbladder surgery after delivery? Yes, if she is otherwise well, and many women do. Dr Raman Garg will check your ultrasound and tell you about timing. Most patients walk the same day, and stitchless closure with skin glue leaves a small mark.
My father in Barnala is 72 with sugar and BP. Can he have surgery? Age alone does not stop surgery. Sugar and BP must be under control, and pre-operative tests are done first. Dr Raman Garg decides after seeing the reports whether keyhole surgery is safe for him.
If it is an emergency in Barnala
Go to the nearest emergency room first. Do not wait to reach Bathinda if you have vomiting blood, black stools, a rigid belly, severe pain that does not ease, or yellow eyes with fever. Call +91 82641-60001 from the way, so our team can speak to the ER doctor and prepare BGCI if you need to be moved. Details: gastro emergency care.
Towns near Barnala we also serve
Rampura Phul lies on the way. We also see patients from Budhlada, Mansa and Faridkot. The full list is on areas we serve.
Book your visit
Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800. Email bgcibathinda@gmail.com. Choose a day from Monday to Saturday between 10 AM and 5 PM, or use the booking page. Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you. See also gastro doctor in Bathinda and gastroenterologist in Bathinda.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.