The Department of Gastroenterology was established in June 1987 under the leadership of Professor SR Naik. Dr. Asha Mishra, PhD, senior technician, was the first employee of the department. Ever since the initiation of clinical activities in late 1987, it has been one of the busiest andmost active departmentsof the Institute. It has been consistently rated as one of the top three departments of Gastroenterology in India by independent polls and academic bodies. Today, the department is an established referral centrefor specialized and quality care for patients with Gastroenterologic, Hepatologic and Pancreato-biliary disorders as well as for advanced GI endoscopic procedures. It is the first and still the leading center in India to provide diagnostic facilities for GI motility disorders and GI Pathophysiology testing. The Department is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for Gastroenterology training since 1989 and admits 6 trainees for the degree of DM in Gastroenterology every year.It is considered to be one of the best centers for training GE post-graduate students and specialists.
The Gastroenterology out-patient department runs five days a week. Besides the General Gastroenterology OPD operating from Monday to Friday,specialty clinics, namely Hepatopancreatobiliary Clinics and Luminal Clinic are functional on Wednesday. The department has 66 beds (50 general ward beds, 10 private suites, 6 short-stay beds for procedures in ERS-2). About 3500 patients are admitted each year. There has been a progressive increase in the clinical workload of the department as it has gained popularity in the state of UP and neighboring states as a Centre of quality care and today, it is catering to a patient load far in excess of the numbers it was designed to handle. The Laboratory and special servicesoffered by the department include Endoscopy Theatre, Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology and Motility laboratory, Gastrointestinal Biochemistry laboratory, Gastrointestinal and Liver serology laboratory with facilities including molecular biology, and serology.