Haryana’s Premier Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science (PGIMS) has launched dedicated endoscopy helpline number 9671000017 to provide round-the-clock consultation to needy patients. The patients will also be able to take the date of endoscopy by making a call to this number. Dr. Parveen Malhotra, Head of Medical Gastroenterology Department of the PGIMS, while interacting with media-persons here on Friday, claimed that this was the first helpline service for endoscopic patients across the nation.
“Now the patients can consult with the doctors of Medical Gastroenterology Department about endoscopic at any time in the day. Not only endoscopic date will be fixed on the phone call but also it will be done within 24 hours or early if required,” said Malhotra. Further elaborating about endoscopic services, he informed the department had started working four and half years back and since then there had been no waiting list for these procedures.
“Around 30 procedures are done daily free of cost. I have never availed my summer/winter vacations for last four years in order to avoid the waiting period as well as giving round the clock endoscopic services. These endoscopic procedures which cost around Rs5-10 thousand per procedure, are done absolutely free at the PGIMS,” said Malhotra. Raising concern about increasing incidence of malignancy and wheat allergy (celiac disease), he said daily 2-3 patients of Carcinoma Esophagus/stomach and 1-2 patients of wheat allergy were diagnosed endoscopically. “But more awareness is required among patients as well as medical fraternity for early and judicious use of endoscopy in needy ones. Any patient having difficulty in swallowing, persistent vomiting with or without blood, weight loss should be subjected to urgent endoscopy to rule out malignancy,” he added.