Answer box: Muktsar is about 55 km from Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute (BGCI), Bathinda, Punjab, India, a road trip of roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Dr Raman Garg, a surgical gastroenterologist with 20+ years of experience, treats stomach, liver, gallbladder, bowel and piles problems for Muktsar families, and performs keyhole surgery when it is the right choice.
20+ years | 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries | Cashless insurance | OPD Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM
Three reasons Muktsar families make the trip
1. The problem keeps coming back. A 38 year old woman from Muktsar has pain under the right ribs after every festival meal. Chemist tablets help for two days. An ultrasound would show gallstones in minutes, yet she waits a year. This pattern is very common.
2. They want tests and surgery from one doctor. A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. You do not run between a physician and a surgeon, repeating your story.
3. A second opinion before surgery. Someone has told you to operate, and you are not sure. Dr Raman Garg gives second opinions too, at the same OPD fee of Rs 500 to 1,000. See second opinion for gastro surgery.
His training: MBBS from Government Medical College, Patiala; MS General Surgery from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana; DNB Surgical Gastroenterology from Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai; advanced laparoscopy training in Seoul, South Korea. He has done 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries and is the first surgical gastroenterologist in the Malwa belt of Punjab. Know more on gastro doctor in Bathinda or gastroenterologist in Bathinda.
Getting from Muktsar to BGCI
| Way to travel | What to know |
|---|---|
| Car or taxi | About 55 km, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Best for the sick and the elderly. Break the journey once if the patient feels weak. |
| Bus | Regular buses connect the towns on this belt to Bathinda. Pick an early bus; return before evening. |
| Train | Bathinda Junction is a large railway hub. Check the timetable before you plan a train day. |
| Shared ride | Two or three families travelling together can split a taxi, which keeps the cost reasonable. |
The road is generally straight through farming country, but fog in December and January can slow travel. In that season, leave later in the morning and start only after the fog lifts. Fog is also when many people postpone, so book a firm time.
Muktsar to Bathinda in one day. Start by 7:30 AM. Arrive about 8:45 AM. After registration at 10 AM, you see Dr Raman Garg, do tests, and know your plan by early afternoon. Return in the evening. If a procedure is needed, we can set a date, and you come on that day with one attendant.
If you cannot travel, begin on WhatsApp: +91 82641-60001. Send reports and a short note. We tell you honestly whether a visit is needed.
Gastro problems we handle for Muktsar patients
| Condition | Why it matters | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Gallstones, attacks | Pain, fever, jaundice if untreated | Gallstone treatment |
| Acid reflux, GERD | Burning, sour taste, night cough | Acid reflux and GERD |
| Piles, fissure | Bleeding, pain, itching | Piles treatment |
| Pancreatitis | Severe upper belly pain | Pancreatitis treatment |
| Hiatal hernia | Heartburn that medicines do not control | Hiatal hernia |
| Endoscopy | Look inside food pipe and stomach | Endoscopy |
| Colonoscopy | Look inside the large bowel | Colonoscopy |
| Cancer surgery | Colon, stomach, liver, pancreas | Colon cancer surgery |
More are listed on gastro treatment in Bathinda.
What your visit looks like
We do the planning, so you do not have to guess.
- Before you leave: Send old scans and blood reports on WhatsApp. Our team replies with the documents to carry.
- At OPD: You tell the story. The doctor presses your belly, checks your eyes and skin, and asks about food, stool and weight.
- Tests: Blood, LFT, stool and H pylori tests are in our in-house laboratory. CT, MRCP or HIDA scans, if needed, are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and Dr Raman Garg reviews them the same day.
- Decision: Medicines, a scope test, or surgery. If surgery is not needed, he says so.
- Procedure day: Keyhole surgery is done with the stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue. Most patients walk the same day and go home within 24 hours.
- After you return: Follow-up by phone or video. Come in person only if there is a reason.
Cost for Muktsar patients
OPD consultation Rs 500 to 1,000.
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound abdomen | 600 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
| MRCP (bile duct and pancreas scan) | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Laparoscopic gallbladder removal, planned | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication (for severe reflux) | 90,000 | 1,30,000 | 2,00,000 |
| Medical treatment of acute pancreatitis | 40,000 | 1,20,000 | 4,00,000 |
| Colon cancer surgery (laparoscopic or open) | 1,00,000 | 1,80,000 | 3,00,000 |
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, stone in the bile duct, stage of disease, your age and other illnesses, and your health.
Cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy, radiation) is not included in surgery figures. Keyhole surgery costs more than open surgery because of equipment, but patients go home sooner and return to work earlier. See gastro treatment cost in Bathinda.
Using your health cover
BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs, including 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.
How cashless works: (1) share your policy details on WhatsApp, (2) our insurance desk checks your cover, (3) the desk arranges pre-authorisation with the insurer, (4) you are treated, and the settlement goes between hospital and insurer as per your policy. For Ayushman Bharat: Call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used. Full guide: cashless insurance.
Facilities at BGCI
Surgery happens in a modern laparoscopic operation theatre. Scope tests happen in an advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite. The in-house diagnostic laboratory serves the OPD and surgery. Comfortable patient rooms make family stay easier. 24/7 emergency care support is available on +91 82641-60001. The cashless insurance desk handles forms. Online pre-arrival consultation helps NRI relatives and out-of-town patients, and follow-up is by phone or video.
Muktsar questions, answered plainly
We come from a village near Muktsar Sahib. Can we visit during the Maghi fair crowd? Book your day outside the fair rush, since roads and buses are crowded then. Phone us first and we will fix a slot.
I am a shopkeeper in the main market. Will I lose a week of earnings? Most keyhole patients go home within 24 hours and many resume light work within about a week. Your own plan is set after examination. Plan surgery around a quiet period.
My elderly mother lives alone in Muktsar. How do we manage? Start with a WhatsApp review. If she must travel, bring one attendant and book the first OPD slot. Follow-up is by phone or video, so she travels less.
My brother is in Australia and wants to pay and organise everything. Is that possible? Yes. Online pre-arrival consultation is available, and our insurance desk can coordinate with the family.
Emergency plan
Repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, black stools, a hard belly, or severe pain with yellow eyes and fever needs same-day hospital care. Go to the nearest emergency room in Muktsar first. Then call +91 82641-60001, and BGCI will advise on safe transfer. Support is available 24/7. Sunday is emergency only.
Nearby towns we also serve
We also see patients from Malout, Giddarbaha, Kotkapura and Faridkot. Browse areas we serve.
How to book
Phone or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800. Email bgcibathinda@gmail.com. Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. OPD: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. 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