Gastroenterology in Mumbai

Gastroenterology is the field of medicine focused on the normal function and diseases of the digestive system or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, as well as colon and rectum. Doctors who specialize in gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists. They are trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the digestive system. Some of the conditions that these specialists can treat include:

• Ulcers
• Acid reflux
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Polyps or growth that can occur in the large intestine (colon)
• Hepatitis C
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Bloody stool
• Hemorrhoids
• Colon and bowel cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Colitis
• Pancreatitis 

While gastroenterologists can treat diseases of the digestive system, they do not perform surgery. If surgery is required they will work with or refer patients to a gastrointestinal surgeon. The following are a range of nonsurgical procedures that gastroenterologists perform:

• Colonoscopy to detect colon polyps and colon cancer
• Endoscopic ultrasound to examine the upper and lower GI tract
• Sigmoidoscopy to assess blood loss or pain in the bowel
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to identify tumors, gallstones, or scar tissue in the bile duct
• Capsule endoscopy to examine the small intestine
• Liver biopsy to examine fibrosis and inflammation
• Polypectomy to remove a polyp.

How Long Should I Stay in Mumbai?

The type of procedure that you undergo determines your length of stay in Mumbai. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can leave the hospital or clinic on the same day. However, you generally need to stay in Mumbai for around a week for follow up appointments and to let your body recover before you can travel. If you undergo a diagnostic procedure, your doctor will discuss the results and create a treatment plan during the follow-up appointment.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time for gastroenterology procedures range from a day to 2 weeks, or sometimes longer, depending on the type of procedure. During the recovery period, it is important to avoid any strenuous activities. Your gastroenterologist will let you know the specific time you can resume your normal activities, go back to work, and perform vigorous exercises.

What Aftercare is Required?

It is crucial that you follow all of the instructions closely, to prevent the problem from getting worse or from reoccurring, you may need to make some dietary and lifestyle changes. You may also need to attend follow-up checkups to monitor your condition. You can have the checkups at home with your local doctor, or with your gastroenterologist in Mumbai.

What's the Success Rate?

Advances in gastroenterology have increased the safety and success rate of treatments. The diagnostic procedures offer high accuracy in finding problems within the gastrointestinal tract, and the treatments are found to be highly successful to treat conditions in the digestive system. For example, a colonoscopy now has a 94% success rate in capturing all colorectal cancer. Still, there are some risks to the procedures that you will need to be aware of, such as a tear in the intestine’s lining, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to the equipment or medication used during the procedure, organ perforation, infection, and incomplete removal (for removal of polyps).

Are there Alternatives?

In most cases, there is no alternative to seeing a gastroenterologist if you experience problems in your digestive system and it is found to be caused by something else that is outside the gastroenterologists’ scope of practice, they will refer you to the relevant specialist.

Gastroenterology in and around Mumbai

About Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a big cosmopolitan city. It’s the wealthiest city in India with the highest number of millionaires and billionaires. It’s the perfect place for anyone who wants to immerse in tradition and modernity, as the city is a grand mixture of old and new. The city is also home to Bollywood, India’s film industry. Tourists flock to the city for its historical sites, amazing food, unique bazaar, and recently, for its medical tourism.

In line with India’s growing medical tourism, Mumbai has gained a lot of attention as a medical destination. In 2017, 27 percent of medical tourism activities in India took place in the state of Maharashtra. Armed with advanced medical technology, world-class doctors, hospitals with the highest-quality, affordable cost, and a wide range of healthcare, Mumbai is the leading city in the state with 80 percent of patients choose to have a medical procedure there.

Most hospitals are accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) or National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). Hospitals like Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Global Hospitals Mumbai, and Wockhardt Hospital South Mumbai are patients’ favorite. Among the most popular procedures are cosmetic and plastic surgery as well as eye surgery.

Popular Areas in Mumbai

Tourists are drawn to the city for various reasons. Some want to indulge in its energetic vibe, others want to be fascinated by its history.

• Gateway of India was built in 1924 and is the most valued structure in India. It’s located at the tip of Apollo Bunder, overlooking the Mumbai harbor. The structure is designed in Indo-Saracenic style with traces of Muslim architectural style. It was built to welcome King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai. Tourists can take a stroll and learn the history of this unique landmark.
• Siddhivinayak Temple will leave anyone in awe. Built-in 1801 by Laxman Vithu and Deubai Patil, it is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh. The temple evolved from a small place of worship to a grand temple. Politicians and Bollywood film stars frequently visit this temple. Tourists can find many interesting facts and cultural insight here.
• Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples mostly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People visit to see its fine specimens of the ancient Hindu culture and tradition as well as for their rock-cut sculptures. The statue of Trimurti Sadasiva form of Lord Shiva is the most famous sculpture in this cave. The caves were named Elefante (morphed to Elephanta) by the colonial Portuguese because they found elephant statues on it.
• Marine Drives is an important destination for tourists visiting Mumbai. It’s a 3km long road in southern Mumbai which forms a natural bay. Its fantastic sunset view is very popular among locals and international tourists. People also come for its perfectly lined palm trees that offer scenic beauty.
• Film City is where most iconic scenes from India’s film were shot. It’s located near Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Goregaon East. With all the essential equipment and world-class facilities, it’s one of the largest indoor shooting facilities in India. This attraction offers tourists a world of wonder.

Weather and Climate in Mumbai

Mumbai has a tropical, wet, and dry climate. Summer starts approaching the city in late March and ends in May. It might not be the best time to visit since the temperature can get as high as 40 °C and the humidity can also be very high. If you can bear hot temperatures and high humidity, there are many festivals worth visiting during these months.

June to October is the monsoon season which sees continuous rain showers, making traveling more difficult. The temperature is not as high as the Summer.

Winter has the most pleasant weather. It starts in November and lasts until February. The temperature is not too hot or too cold and the humidity is very low, so tourists can enjoy many outdoor activities and sightseeing. The coolest month in Mumbai in January, with the temperature ranging between 13 °C to 30 °C.

Getting Around in Mumbai

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the main international airport in Mumbai. It’s the second busiest airport in India. The airport serves domestic and international flights to major cities in Asia and Europe. Budget airlines such as GoAir, flydubai, and AirAsia India.

Taxis, auto-rickshaws, and car rentals are available to travel from the airport to Mumbai’s city center. Taxis will take tourists around 25 minutes (depending on the traffic) to the city center. There are two taxi options; metered taxis and pre-paid taxis. Auto-rickshaws are metered and available from Terminal 1, they are cheaper than taxis. Car rentals are the best option if you want to have more flexibility and independence, you can rent directly at the airport.

There are various transportation modes to get around Mumbai. The local Train has 120 stops so you can get off on your nearest destination easily, trains start at 4.00am and stop at 2.00am. While the second class ticket is very cheap, it’s usually very crowded and uncomfortable. Tourists can buy a tourist ticket for 275 INR which allows them to travel in first class for the whole day.

The Mumbai Metro is a cheaper option, with the fares ranging from 10 to 40 INR. The train leaves every 4 minutes during busy hours and 8 minutes on non-busy hours. Buses in Mumbai are known as Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), they run from 5.00am to midnight.

Taxis are cheap and easy to find. The minimum fare is 21 INR for the first 1.5 km and then 1 INR for every 100 meters. Make sure to check the meter yourself before paying because some drivers are known to cheat. Auto-rickshaws are widely available, the base fare should be 18 INR and 1 INR to 2 INR for every 100 meters.

Tourist Visas in Mumbai

Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are granted visa-free entry. Visa on arrival is available for citizens of Japan and South Korea. India provides e-Visa for 150 countries, the visa is valid for 60 days. If you come for medical treatment, you can apply for the medical attendant e-visa. Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa to enter the country.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The local currency is the Indian rupee (INR). 1 USD is equivalent to 70 INR.
2. Money & Payments: tourists can find ATMs everywhere. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants but it is advisable to always bring cash. Tipping is optional.
3. Local Language: Marathi is the state and city official language. Hindi is widely spoken. English is widely used in most places and many locals speak broken English.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Due to the growth of various communities and migrants, there are many religions in the city. Most people are Hindus, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jains, and Buddhist.
5. Public Holidays: Mumbai celebrates almost all major religious holidays. The city hosts several annual festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Holi Festival.