Answer box: Dr Raman Garg is a surgical gastroenterologist and laparoscopic surgeon at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute (BGCI), Power House Road, Bathinda, Punjab, India. Malout is about 60 km away, a drive of roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. He treats gallstones, acidity, piles, liver and gut problems for Malout families, with scope tests and keyhole surgery under one roof.
20+ years | 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries | Cashless insurance | OPD Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM
Is the trip from Malout worth it? Five honest reasons
Sixty kilometres is not short, so here is what you get for the drive.
| Reason | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| One doctor decides | A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. You are not sent from clinic to clinic. |
| Scope tests in the same place | Endoscopy and colonoscopy are done in BGCI's own suite, and blood tests in the in-house laboratory. |
| Keyhole surgery, no big cut | The stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue is used, and most patients go home within 24 hours. |
| Reports reviewed before you arrive | Send them on WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 and Dr Raman Garg reviews them first. |
| Follow-up from home | After surgery, check-ups are by phone or video. |
Dr Raman Garg has 20+ years of experience, 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries and 1,000+ laparoscopic hernia repairs. His training includes MBBS from Government Medical College, Patiala, MS General Surgery from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, and DNB Surgical Gastroenterology from Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. He is the first surgical gastroenterologist in the Malwa belt of Punjab. Read more about Dr Raman Garg.
Getting from Malout to BGCI
Malout lies in the south-western farming belt of Punjab, with orchards and wheat and paddy fields around it. The road to Bathinda passes through the Giddarbaha stretch, which many Malout families already know from marriages, mandi work and shopping.
- Distance: about 60 km. Time: about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Road: head towards Giddarbaha and onwards to Bathinda. Fog in December and January can double the time, so start after sunrise in winter.
- Bus: buses run from Malout towards Bathinda through the day. Get down in Bathinda and take an auto to Power House Road.
- Train: Bathinda Junction is the railway hub. If you take a train, it is a short auto ride from the station to BGCI.
- Taxi: sensible for anyone who is weak, in pain or coming for a procedure.
A family from Malout with a father who has had gallbladder pain for six months could plan like this: WhatsApp the ultrasound on Sunday, get a call back on Monday, reach BGCI by 10 AM on Wednesday, finish the consultation and blood tests by lunch, and return home by evening with a surgery date in hand.
Gastro problems we treat for Malout patients
- Pite di pathri (gallstones): pain on the upper right side after fried or fatty food. See gallstone treatment and gallbladder removal surgery.
- Acidity and gas: burning, sour belching, bloating after meals. See gas, acidity and bloating treatment.
- Piles and fissure: bleeding, pain or a lump at the back passage. See piles treatment and fissure treatment.
- Endoscopy: endoscopy in Bathinda for food pipe, stomach and upper gut.
- Colonoscopy: colonoscopy for bowel bleeding and long-standing constipation.
- Liver: fatty liver, jaundice (peeliya), raised liver tests. See fatty liver treatment and jaundice treatment.
- Appendix, hernia and cancers: appendicitis surgery, laparoscopic hernia surgery in Punjab and GI cancer surgery.
What your visit looks like
Before: Photograph your reports, ultrasound, old prescriptions and any insurance card. Send them to WhatsApp +91 82641-60001. The team tells you what else to bring.
On the day: OPD runs Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Dr Raman Garg takes a full history, examines you and explains the problem in simple words, in Punjabi or Hindi. Blood and stool tests are done in the in-house laboratory. CT, MRCP and similar scans are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and reports are reviewed by Dr Raman Garg the same day.
Decision: Some patients only need medicines and a diet change. Surgery is advised only when it is the right answer, not as a default.
If you are operated on: Keyhole surgery is planned with a stitchless technique. Most patients walk the same day and most are discharged within 24 hours.
After: Wound care, diet and warning signs are explained. Follow-up is by phone or video.
Cost for Malout patients
OPD consultation Rs 500 to 1,000.
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | 7,000 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| Liver function test (LFT) | 400 | 600 | 1,200 |
| FibroScan (fatty liver stiffness) | 3,000 | 5,000 | 7,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, planned | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, difficult or after an attack | 60,000 | 90,000 | 1,40,000 |
| Anal fissure surgery (lateral sphincterotomy) | 28,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on gallstone size and number, whether there was an infection or attack, and your health.
Published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals put gallbladder keyhole surgery at about Rs 40,000 to 90,000. Keyhole costs more than open surgery because of equipment, but patients go home sooner and return to work earlier. Full list: gastro treatment cost in Bathinda.
Cashless insurance for Malout families
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs for cashless treatment: 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.
- Send a photo of your policy card and ID on WhatsApp.
- The insurance desk checks cover and arranges pre-authorisation.
- Approval is shared with you before the procedure date.
- After treatment, the desk completes the paperwork.
Ayushman Bharat: call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used. More on cashless insurance.
Facilities at BGCI
A modern laparoscopic operation theatre. An advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite. A fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory. Comfortable patient rooms for the patient and one attendant to rest. 24/7 emergency care support. A cashless insurance desk. Online pre-arrival consultation for out-of-town and NRI patients. One surgeon from first consultation to follow-up. See the gastro hospital in Bathinda.
Local questions from Malout
I farm near Malout and the wheat harvest is close. When should I get my gallbladder done? If you are having attacks, do not wait for the season to end. An attack can send you to an emergency room in the middle of harvest. If the stone is silent, Dr Raman Garg may agree to a gap. Book the surgery in a quiet month.
I work at a fruit trading shop in Malout. I sit and eat irregular meals. Is that why I get acidity? Irregular meals, long gaps, tea on an empty stomach and fried snacks all push acid up. Fix those first, but if burning continues for more than 2 weeks, get an endoscopy.
I am a woman in my forties with pain after dinner. Does it have to be gallstones? Not always. Gallstones are common in women in this age group, but acidity and an ulcer cause similar pain. An ultrasound and examination tell the difference. See stomach pain treatment.
My father is 72 and on blood thinners. Can he have a scope test? Often yes, with planning. Bring his full medicine list. Dr Raman Garg will tell you which tablets to pause and when.
Emergency plan for Malout
Severe continuous belly pain, vomiting blood, black stool, a rigid swollen belly, or yellow eyes with high fever need same-day hospital care. Go first to the nearest emergency room in Malout and do not wait to arrange a long road trip. Then call BGCI on +91 82641-60001. The team supports emergencies 24/7 and can guide the receiving doctors. See gastro emergency care.
Nearby towns we also serve
Patients from the same belt also visit from Muktsar, Giddarbaha, Dabwali and Kotkapura. Find all towns on areas we serve.
How to book
Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800. Send your reports. Visit Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM; Sunday is emergency only. Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. Email: bgcibathinda@gmail.com. You can also use book appointment.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you. Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.
Read next: gastro doctor in Bathinda, gastroenterologist in Bathinda.