Department of
Gastroenterology

About the Department

When Digestion Demands Expert Attention

Gastroenterology is the specialty of medicine focused on the digestive system and its disorders — covering the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. Gastrointestinal disease is extraordinarily common: acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and colorectal cancer together represent one of the largest disease burdens globally. Yet gastroenterology is also one of the most underappreciated specialties symptoms are often dismissed as dietary, ignored, or managed empirically for years before a definitive diagnosis is made.

Endoscopy has transformed gastroenterology from a purely medical specialty into a therapeutic powerhouse. A skilled gastroenterologist can today stop a bleeding ulcer, remove a colonic polyp before it becomes cancer, place a biliary stent to relieve jaundice, biopsy a liver lesion, and dilate an oesophageal stricture all without a single incision. Early endoscopic evaluation saves lives, and MNR Hospital has invested in ensuring this capability is fully available to the population of Coastal Karnataka.

Gastroenterology at MNR Hospital

The Department of Gastroenterology at MNR Hospital operates two fully equipped endoscopy suites with video-endoscopy systems for upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ERCP. Our team of six gastroenterologists and hepatologists manages the complete spectrum of gastrointestinal and liver disease from common conditions like GERD, functional dyspepsia, and H. pylori infection, to complex inflammatory bowel disease, viral hepatitis management, NAFLD/NASH, autoimmune liver disease, and pre-cirrhotic liver care.

Our hepatology service is particularly strong, reflecting the high prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C, alcohol-related liver disease, and NAFLD in the region. We use FibroScan (hepatic elastography) for non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment, and our antiviral treatment protocols align with the latest international guidelines. We also offer structured colorectal cancer screening programmes for high-risk individuals and maintain a close working relationship with our oncology team for the management of GI malignancies.

Your Gut Health Deserves Serious Attention

Too many patients with GI symptoms wait often for years before seeking specialist care. Persistent heartburn, unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool, or chronic abdominal pain are never symptoms to dismiss. At MNR Hospital, our gastroenterology team is trained to see through the noise and arrive at accurate, timely diagnoses. We counsel patients not just on treatment, but on the dietary and lifestyle changes that make the greatest difference to GI health outcomes. Because a healthy gut is not a luxury it is foundational to the health of every other organ.