Section of Gastroenterology
Section Head: Dr. Om Parkash
The Gastroenterology Section is the largest section within the Department of Medicine, comprising 18 faculty members , 8 full-time and 10 part-time. The Section provides state-of-the-art services, including 24-hour emergency care supported by the latest and most advanced endoscopy facilities.
Our team performs a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy, endoscopic sclerotherapy, band ligation, colonoscopy, polypectomy, electrocoagulation, Argon plasma coagulation, luminal stenting (esophageal, pyloric, duodenal, and colonic), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for common bile duct stone extraction and biliary strictures or leaks.
The Section has also introduced Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) services, with over 700 procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic , successfully performed by our internationally trained faculty.
We have established a dedicated Esophageal pH and Manometry Unit, offering 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal/rectal manometry. This service is particularly valuable for patients with atypical chest pain not originating from cardiac causes.
In addition, the Section has launched Capsule Endoscopy and Fibroscan services, both performed and reported by our highly trained gastroenterologists and staff.
Education and Training:
The Section offers two fellowship programs:
Gastroenterology Fellowship
Advanced ERCP Fellowship, recently accredited and already with one graduate.
Our Gastroenterology Fellowship is recognized as one of the leading training programs in the country, having trained over 60 gastroenterologists who are now serving at AKU, across Pakistan, and internationally in senior academic and clinical positions. Fellows frequently receive international travel and research grants to present their work at national and global conferences.
The Section is deeply engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training MBBS students, nursing students, and internal medicine residents. We also welcome elective students and trainees from across Pakistan and abroad.
Research and Academic Contributions:
Our research primarily focuses on clinical studies in areas such as viral hepatitis (B, C, and D), liver cirrhosis, and national and multinational clinical trials on conditions like hepatitis delta, hepatitis C, and ulcerative colitis.
Professor Saeed Hamid has notably served as Chair for the WHO Guidelines Committee on Hepatitis B and C.
The Section has received numerous national (PMRC, HEC) and international (Wellcome Trust, Pfizer) research grants, and has published over 500 papers in leading journals. These contributions have influenced clinical practice and health policy, including the incorporation of the HBV vaccine into the national immunization program.
Community Outreach and Continuing Education:
Each year, the Section organizes multiple public awareness sessions on topics of community interest such as World Hepatitis Day, World Digestive Health Day, and Ramzan and Digestive Health.
We also conduct 5–6 Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions annually for physicians and trainees, and run two certificate courses on:
