Gastroenterology in Pune

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 Pune?

The type of procedure that you undergo determines your length of stay in Pune. 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 Pune 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 Pune.

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 Pune

About Pune

Pune is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of 3.13 million, it is the ninth most populous city in the country. Like many other cities in India, this city is a perfect blend of ancient and modern. It’s a thriving metropolis that still retains a few of its old buildings and residential areas. The city is famous for the Osho International Meditation Resort, an ashram founded by the late guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. There is a lot to see and do in this city that cannot be packed into a short weekend trip. Recently, many tourists visit the city for its medical treatments.

Pune’s is in sync with India’s fast-growing medical tourism. Domestic and foreign patients prefer the city to get the best healthcare. Medical cost is relatively cheaper here than in any other medical tourism country. The government is expanding this sector rapidly to drive a strong growth rate. With high-quality hospitals, infrastructure, and well-trained medical professionals, the city has a lot of contribution in helping India to be the number one medical destination in the world.

A wide range of medical treatments is available in Pune, from Breast Augmentation, Tummy Tuck, to Otoplasty. Columbia Asia Hospital Pune, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Research Center, and Apollo Jehangir Hospital are some of the best hospitals with the highest ratings.

Popular Areas in Pune

Pune has a lively nightlife and vibrant atmosphere due to its large student population. It’s sometimes called “Oxford of the East” because there are numerous colleges and institutes here. It is also well known for its hill forts that offer panoramic views, fantastic restaurants, and good museums. The city has a magnificent history of nearly 1600 years.

• Shaniwar Wada is a historical fortification situated at the very heart of Pune. Built in 1732, it was originally a seven-storied capital building of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. It’s an amazing place for history buffs. Tourists can enjoy some live shows in the evening.
• Mahadji Shinde Chhatri has an extremely beautiful architecture that reflects the style used in Rajasthan. It is a memorial dedicated to the great soldier, Mahadji Shinde who served as the commander-in-chief of the Maratha army under the Peshwas for twenty years. The memorial consists of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Pataleshwar Caves is a religious shrine that dates back to 700 – 800 AD. Located on Jungli Maharaj Road, the shrine has grand statues of Nandi, Sita, Ram, Lakshman, Lakshmi, Ganesh, and a big Shivalingam.
• Parvati Hill is the highest point in Pune. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and is especially breathtaking during sunrise and sunset. The hill is home to four temples.
• Osho International Meditation Resort draws thousands of sannyasins since 1990. It is the perfect place to get some peace of mind. With various meditation techniques, the resort is suitable for those who want to indulge in some luxurious meditation. The resort has a swimming pool, sauna, spa, and guesthouse.

Weather and Climate in Pune

March to June is summer and the temperature can get really high during this season, with the highest temperature ever recorded is 43.3 °C (109.9 °F). The end of May usually experiences dusty winds. Humidity is also very high.

Monsoon or rainy season starts in June and last until October. There are moderate rainfall and the average temperature ranging from 22 °C to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F). July is the wettest month of the year with occasional Hailstorms.

Winter has the most pleasant weather. It starts from December to February. The average daytime temperature is around 26 °C (79 °F) and night temperature can drop to 5 °C to 6 °C (41 to 43 °F). Due to the pollution, the city’s winter temperature has warmed up by 6 degrees.

Getting Around in Pune

Pune International Airport is still the main airport in the city until the completion of the proposed Chattrapati Sambhaji International Airport. This airport has one terminal that serves both domestic and international flights. Major airlines such as Air India and budget airlines such as AirAsia India, GoAir, and IndiGo operate flights from this airport. The international flights connect the city with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Frankfurt.

To get to the city center from Pune International Airport, taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws, and car rentals are available. There are four bus lines that reach the city center: 24B, 102, 158 and 158A. A bus ride usually takes 45 minutes. Taxis are relatively affordable, there are pre-paid and metered taxis out on the arrivals area.

Tourists can use the PMPL City bus to get around Pune. Almost all parts of the city can be reached by the buses, but be aware that it can be very crowded and smoke-belching. The fare ranges from 5 INR to 22 INR. Auto-rickshaws are widely available within the city; there are metered and pre-paid auto-rickshaws. If you choose the metered one, always make sure that the drivers use the meter before getting in. Taxis are another nice option; the prices range between 7 INR/km to 20 INR/km. online hailing apps are also available. There are many car rentals and tourists can drive around the city, but there is a lot of traffic and bad driving in Pune.

Tourist Visas in Pune

All visitors, except citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, need to obtain and apply for a visa to enter India. Citizens of South Korea and Japan can apply for a visa on arrival. E-Visa is available for 150 nationalities. Tourists coming for medical treatment can apply for the medical attendant e-visa.

Passport must be valid for at least 180 days after your entry to India and should have at least two blank pages.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: Indian rupee (INR) is the local currency. 1 USD converts to 70 INR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available in Pune. Tourists can find many exchange services around the city. Credit and debit cards are accepted at several restaurants, hotels, and shops. It is advisable to always carry cash. Tipping is not mandatory; you can always tip 10 to 15 percent of the billed amount in restaurants.
3. Local Language: Marathi is the official language of Pune. Most people also speak Hindi. English is widely spoken especially in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Most of the population follows Hinduism. Other religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism have significant presences in the city.
5. Public Holidays: Pune celebrates major religious holidays. The city also celebrates several annual festivals such as Pune Festival, The Eateries Food Fest, and Pune International Film Festival.