A surgical gastroenterologist is a stomach, gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas specialist who also operates. Dr Raman Garg at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute in Bathinda, Punjab, India, is the first surgical gastroenterologist in the Malwa belt of Punjab. One doctor examines you, decides between medicines, a scope test or keyhole surgery, and follows you up.
20+ years | 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries | Cashless insurance | OPD Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM
What is a surgical gastroenterologist, in plain words?
Most people know two kinds of doctors for the pet. A physician treats with medicines. A general surgeon operates on many parts of the body. A surgical gastroenterologist sits between the two, and goes deeper. He trains only in the digestive system: the food pipe, stomach, small gut, large gut, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. He can test you with a scope, treat you with medicines, and operate if you need it.
This matters for you. Many patients in Punjab run from one doctor to another for months. A tablet doctor says take acid medicine. A scan centre says there is a stone. A surgeon is then told to operate. With a surgical gastroenterologist, the same person looks at your reports, your scope pictures and your pain, and tells you what is truly needed. Sometimes that answer is no surgery at all.
Surgical gastroenterologist vs gastroenterologist: what is the difference?
A gastroenterologist (medical gastro doctor) mainly treats with medicines and does tests like endoscopy and colonoscopy. A surgical gastroenterologist does all of that and also performs the operation when medicines are not enough. If you only need acidity control or a liver check, a gastro doctor is fine. If a stone, hernia, blocked gut, bleeding pile or cancer is suspected, you want the one who can also operate. You can read about the medical side on our gastroenterologist in Bathinda page, and the full overview on gastro doctor in Bathinda.
Dr Raman Garg: qualifications and experience
Dr Raman Garg has more than 20 years of experience. He has performed over 10,000 laparoscopic (keyhole) surgeries, including over 1,000 laparoscopic hernia repairs.
- MBBS, Government Medical College, Patiala
- MS General Surgery, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana
- DNB Surgical Gastroenterology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai
- Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
- Advanced laparoscopy training in Seoul, South Korea
- Registered with the Dubai Health Authority as Physician Specialist, Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Member, IAGES and AMASI
Full details are on the Dr Raman Garg page.
What does a surgical gastroenterologist treat and operate on?
Here is what patients from Bathinda and nearby towns come to Dr Raman Garg for. Each name links to its own page.
| Problem | What it feels like | What may be done |
|---|---|---|
| Gallstones, pite di pathri | Pain on the right side or upper middle belly after oily food, vomiting | Keyhole gallbladder removal |
| Appendicitis | Pain starting near the navel, moving to the lower right side, fever | Keyhole appendix removal, usually the same day |
| Hernia | A bulge in the groin or belly that grows on coughing | Laparoscopic hernia repair |
| Hiatal hernia and acid reflux | Burning in the chest, food coming back up, not relieved by medicines | Tests first, then surgery only for severe cases |
| Piles, fissure, fistula | Blood with stool, cutting pain, a boil that keeps leaking | Medicines first, procedure when needed |
| Intestinal obstruction | Swollen belly, repeated vomiting, no gas or stool | Urgent surgery after quick assessment |
| Stomach ulcer with bleeding or hole | Black stool, vomiting blood, sudden severe pain | Emergency surgery |
| Colon cancer, stomach cancer, GI cancer | Blood in stool, weight loss, a lump, food getting stuck | Staging tests, then cancer surgery |
Dr Raman Garg also sees problems that never need an operation: gas, acidity, constipation, IBS, fatty liver, H pylori, jaundice and pancreatitis. The complete list is on our gastro treatment in Bathinda page.
When should you see a surgical gastroenterologist?
Think of a 45 year old shopkeeper from Rampura Phul. He gets pain under the right ribs after parathas. An ultrasound found stones. His family doctor keeps giving painkillers. This is the time to see a surgical gastroenterologist, not after the third attack.
Book a visit if you have:
- Pain after fatty meals, with or without vomiting
- A stone in the gallbladder found on ultrasound
- A bulge in the groin, belly button or after an old operation scar
- Blood in stool for more than a week, or a change in toilet habit after age 40
- Burning in the chest every day despite medicines
- Weight loss without trying, or food sticking in the throat
- A past operation that is giving trouble
Red flags that need same-day hospital care: sudden severe belly pain, a hard swollen belly, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, black tarry stool, yellow eyes with fever and chills, or no gas and no stool for a day. Do not wait for OPD. Go to the nearest emergency room and call +91 82641-60001, our 24/7 emergency care support line.
How Dr Raman Garg diagnoses your problem
The first visit is a talk and an examination. He asks what you eat, when the pain comes, what medicines you took. He examines your belly. Then he picks only the tests you need. Blood tests, LFT and stool tests are done in our in-house diagnostic laboratory. Scans such as CT, MRCP and HIDA are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and Dr Raman Garg reviews the reports the same day. You can also send old reports on WhatsApp before you travel.
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation (also second opinion) | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Ultrasound abdomen | 600 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy) | 2,000 | 3,200 | 5,000 |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 4,500 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Liver function test (LFT) | 400 | 600 | 1,200 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
| MRCP (bile duct and pancreas scan) | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the number of tests needed, a biopsy or polyp removal done during a scope test, and your health.
Learn more about the scope tests on the endoscopy and colonoscopy pages.
Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery: how it works
In keyhole surgery, the surgeon makes a few small cuts, each about the size of a button or a fingertip. A thin camera goes in through one cut and fine instruments through the others. The surgeon watches a large screen and works inside the belly without opening it wide. The advantages are real: smaller wounds, less pain medicine, early walking and an earlier return to work. Dr Raman Garg uses a stitchless technique with skin glue, so there are no stitches to remove.
Most keyhole surgeries here allow same-day walking and discharge within 24 hours. Read more on the laparoscopic surgery in Bathinda page, and see our blog on laparoscopic surgery benefits and recovery.
Is keyhole always the answer? No. If a belly is badly infected, a gut is badly blocked or a cancer is large, the surgeon may start with keyhole and switch to open surgery to keep you safe. Dr Raman Garg explains this before surgery, not after.
When surgery is not needed
An honest surgeon tells you when not to operate. Gallstones that cause no pain are often only watched. Acidity and gas usually settle with medicines, food changes and a proper meal routine. Small piles and fresh fissures often improve with medicines and fibre. Dr Raman Garg suggests an operation only when it will help you more than waiting would. If you already have a surgery advice from elsewhere, you can bring it for a second opinion on gastro surgery.
Before and after surgery: what to expect
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before | Blood tests, ECG and chest X-ray. Fast as told (usually 6 to 8 hours). Tell the team about every medicine, especially blood thinners and diabetes tablets. |
| Day of surgery | Admission in the morning, surgery under anaesthesia, rest in the recovery area. |
| Same day | Most patients sit up and walk within hours after keyhole surgery. |
| Next day | Most patients go home within 24 hours with a diet chart and medicines. |
| First week | Light food, short walks, no heavy lifting. Phone or video check with Dr Raman Garg. |
| After 1 to 2 weeks | Most patients return to desk or shop work. Heavy farm or labour work waits longer, as advised. |
Timelines differ by operation and by person. Your exact plan is set after examination.
Risks and how they are handled
Every operation has risks: bleeding, infection, a reaction to anaesthesia, or a need to convert to open surgery. Some patients also have problems linked to diabetes, heart disease or age. Dr Raman Garg checks your fitness before surgery, uses sterile operation theatre routines, and explains the risks of your specific operation in plain words before you sign consent. One surgeon looks after you from consultation to follow-up, so any worry after discharge reaches the same person.
Cost of surgery with a surgical gastroenterologist in Bathinda
| Surgery | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Laparoscopic appendix removal | 40,000 | 65,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, one side | 50,000 | 75,000 | 1,10,000 |
| Piles surgery | 35,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 |
| Anal fissure surgery | 28,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 |
| Fistula surgery | 35,000 | 55,000 | 85,000 |
| Hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication | 90,000 | 1,30,000 | 2,00,000 |
| Intestinal obstruction surgery | 60,000 | 1,20,000 | 2,50,000 |
| Emergency surgery for perforation or bleeding ulcer | 70,000 | 1,10,000 | 1,80,000 |
| Colon cancer surgery | 1,00,000 | 1,80,000 | 3,00,000 |
| Stomach cancer surgery | 1,50,000 | 2,50,000 | 4,00,000 |
| Other GI cancer surgery (rectum, pancreas, liver), planned | 1,50,000 | 2,50,000 | 4,50,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the type of surgery chosen, whether there was an infection or attack, the stage of disease, your age and other illnesses, and your health.
Cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy, radiation) is not included in surgery figures. For comparison, published ranges from Mohali and Chandigarh hospitals put gallbladder keyhole surgery at about Rs 40,000 to 90,000 and piles surgery at about Rs 35,000 to 85,000, and metro hospitals often charge more. Keyhole costs more than open surgery because of the equipment, but patients go home sooner and return to work earlier. See the full price list on gastro treatment cost in Bathinda.
Cashless insurance for surgery
Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs for cashless treatment, 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:
- Send your policy or card details on WhatsApp to +91 82641-60001.
- Our insurance desk checks your cover and arranges pre-authorisation.
- You get the approval and a date for surgery.
- After surgery, the hospital settles with the insurer as per your policy terms.
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. More on the cashless insurance page.
Facilities at BGCI
- Modern laparoscopic operation theatre
- Advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite
- Fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory
- Comfortable patient rooms
- 24/7 emergency care support
- Cashless insurance desk
- Stitchless laparoscopic technique with skin glue
- Online pre-arrival consultation for out-of-town and NRI patients: share reports on WhatsApp
- Follow-up by phone or video
CT, MRI, MRCP and HIDA are arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, with reports reviewed by Dr Raman Garg the same day. Read more on the gastro hospital in Bathinda page.
Why patients choose Dr Raman Garg
- One surgeon from consultation to follow-up, so you never explain your story twice
- A surgeon who also does the scope test, so the diagnosis and the operation come from one mind
- Advice that includes no surgery when surgery is not needed
- Clear cost ranges and a cashless desk that does the paperwork
- Online report review, so patients from far away travel once, not three times
Patients we see from your area
Patients travel to see Dr Raman Garg from Goniana Mandi (12 km), Rampura Phul (30 km), Maur Mandi (30 km), Talwandi Sabo (30 km), Mansa (50 km), Muktsar (55 km), Faridkot (65 km) and Barnala (70 km), along with other towns on our areas we serve page. Bathinda Junction makes the city easy to reach by train from across the Malwa belt.
How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 or +91 99885-03800.
- Share your ultrasound, blood reports or old prescriptions on WhatsApp.
- Come for OPD, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Sunday is for emergencies only.
- Get your plan the same day. Book your date for a test or surgery.
Address: Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India. Email: bgcibathinda@gmail.com. Emergency care support: 24/7 on +91 82641-60001. You can also use our book appointment page.
Related pages
Gastro doctor in Bathinda | Gastro treatment in Bathinda | Gallbladder removal surgery | Hernia surgery | Gastro emergency | Blog: gastroenterologist vs gastro surgeon | Blog: how to choose a gastro doctor in Bathinda
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.