Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences now has a brand new Department of Gastroenterology. It was officially started in the middle of May 2009 with the appointment of Dr Thomas Alexander. At present it has the capacity for diagnostic Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and a limited amount of therapeutic capabilities including emergency therapy for gastrointestinal bleeding . However it is expected that in 6 weeks time (from the time of writing) a far larger number of endoscopes and therapeutic facilities will be available.

The department has two senior staff: Dr Thomas Alexander trained in Gastroenterology at the Department of Gastroenterology at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. His most recent position was at the Holy Cross Hospital, Kottiyam, Kerala where he built up a very good department with excellent endoscopic facilities including endoscopic ultrasound. Dr George Kurian is recently retired from the Department of Gastroenterology, Christian Medical College, Vellore. The latter is available only on the first three days of every week. Dr.Nandakumar is the the full time registrar on duty.

The department works in synchronization with the Departments of Surgery, Radiology and Pathology and is dependent on the reliability of the laboratory services of PIMS.

At present Outpatient Services are available daily – Monday to Saturday – and emergency services are available 24 X 7. The OPD is open from 8.30 am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday and 8.30 am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays. Please contact the reception (+919786100222) for appointments directly. In an emergency Dr Kurian (+919443386189) can be contacted and he will make arrangements or advise you about what can be done.