Last updated 2026-11-08 · Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg · Punjab, India
20+ years | 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries | 1,000+ hernia repairs | Cashless insurance | OPD Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM
Why patients from Malout choose Bathinda
Malout sits on a busy crossroads of southern Punjab. Roads go to Muktsar, Abohar, Dabwali and Bathinda, and the town's grain mandi draws farmers, traders and truckers from villages all around. Work here is physical. Sacks are lifted, trolleys are pushed and long hours are spent on a tractor seat. That is exactly the kind of life that turns a small groin bulge into a big one.
When the lump starts to ache, a Malout patient has a choice of travel. Many pick Bathinda because it is the nearer city with a surgeon who focuses on keyhole hernia repair. Dr Raman Garg has performed 10,000+ laparoscopic surgeries in 20+ years, with 1,000+ of them hernia repairs. He is a surgical gastroenterologist, the first in the Malwa belt of Punjab, so a hernia that sits next to a stomach or bowel problem is handled by the same expert.
Before you decide on a hospital, read our short post on how to choose a hernia surgeon in Punjab. It lists the questions worth asking anyone, including us. You can also see the full hernia hospital checklist.
How to reach BGCI from Malout
The hospital address is Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001. By road, Malout is about 60 km away, and the trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Family car: take the road from Malout towards Bathinda through the Giddarbaha side. Let the patient sit in front with the seat slightly reclined, since a long upright posture can strain a painful groin.
- Bus: take a bus from the Malout bus stand to Bathinda, then a short auto ride to Power House Road.
- Train: Bathinda Junction is the large railway junction in the city. From the station, an auto or cab brings you to the hospital.
- Taxi: share a cab with a relative, which also gives the patient a person to lean on when walking.
Plan for the first day: leave Malout around 8:15 AM, arrive about 9:30 AM, and complete registration before OPD begins at 10 AM. Dr Raman Garg sees you, you get tests done in the same building, and you head home after lunch. For surgery, we suggest you arrive early in the morning with a relative, and leave the next day.
Hernia problems we treat for Malout patients
| Hernia type | Who we often see from Malout | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Groin hernia, hernia in the scrotum | Truck drivers, tractor operators, mandi labourers | Inguinal hernia surgery |
| Belly button hernia | Women after pregnancy, older men with a loose belly wall | Umbilical hernia surgery |
| Chest burn with a hiatus hernia | People with years of acid reflux | Hiatal hernia surgery |
| Large wall defect after earlier surgery | After an operation or caesarean | Incisional hernia surgery |
| Open repair when keyhole is not suitable | Selected complex or neglected cases | Open hernia surgery |
| Short-stay repair | Fit patients with a small hernia | Day-care hernia surgery |
The technique we prefer for most patients is laparoscopic hernia surgery. If your hernia is very large or the abdomen has scars from earlier surgery, Dr Raman Garg explains openly when open repair is the safer choice.
Your visit step by step
- Take a photo of the lump while standing, and gather any scan or doctor note. Send them to +91 82641-60001 on WhatsApp.
- Our team reviews the files and tells you whether to come, which tests to bring and what to eat or avoid that morning.
- At OPD (Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM), Dr Raman Garg examines you and explains whether you need surgery now.
- Tests such as ultrasound, blood work, ECG and chest X-ray are done on site.
- For surgery, the insurance desk starts the cashless process. You are admitted early on the operation day.
- After the operation, which takes about 45 to 90 minutes, you walk within hours and are usually discharged within 24 hours.
- Wound care is simple because of skin glue. Follow-up with Dr Raman Garg happens by phone or video, so you do not need to drive back for stitch removal.
Hernia operation cost for Malout patients
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Ultrasound abdomen or groin | 600 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Open inguinal hernia repair with mesh, one side | 30,000 | 45,000 | 65,000 |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, one side | 50,000 | 75,000 | 1,10,000 |
| Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, both sides | 70,000 | 1,05,000 | 1,60,000 |
| Hiatal hernia repair with fundoplication | 90,000 | 1,30,000 | 2,00,000 |
| Incisional hernia repair (after C-section or other surgery) | 70,000 | 1,05,000 | 1,60,000 |
| Standard mesh (polypropylene), add-on | 3,000 | 8,000 | 15,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the hernia type, size, number of sides, mesh used and your health.
Laparoscopic repair costs more than open repair because of the equipment and the mesh. In return, you usually get back to work 1 to 2 weeks earlier, and a hernia on both sides can be repaired through the same cuts. For a deeper comparison, open the hernia surgery cost in Punjab guide.
Cashless insurance for Malout families
If you or your parents hold a health policy, bring the card on the day. BGCI works with Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Digit Insurance, Care Health Insurance, Vidal Health TPA, ICICI Lombard, Raksha TPA, Future Generali, SBI General Insurance, Oriental Insurance, Liberty General Insurance, IFFCO Tokio, Cholamandalam MS, Medi Assist TPA, and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Our desk sends the pre-authorisation, tracks the reply and tells you what the insurer has approved. For Ayushman Bharat, call us with your card details and our insurance desk will tell you the same day how your card can be used. See the hernia surgery insurance page for the process.
Facilities at BGCI
- A modern laparoscopic operation theatre, where hernia repairs are done through three small cuts.
- An advanced endoscopy and colonoscopy suite, so a hiatus hernia or bowel complaint can be checked in the same hospital.
- A fully equipped in-house diagnostic laboratory with quick reports.
- Comfortable patient rooms for your first night after surgery.
- 24/7 emergency care support, reachable on +91 82641-60001.
- A cashless insurance desk that handles the paperwork.
- Stitchless closure with skin glue.
- One surgeon from consultation to follow-up, plus online pre-arrival consultation and follow-up by phone or video.
Recovery at home in Malout and when to call
Once home, move around the house every hour or two. Do not sit for long on a hard stool, and keep your diet rich in fibre, such as dal, vegetables and a bowl of curd, so that you pass stool without strain. Desk work resumes in about 1 week, and driving in 1 to 2 weeks. Tractor work, loading and farm labour wait 8 to 12 weeks. More detail is in the recovery guide.
Get in touch the same day if you see spreading redness, discharge from the wound, fever, vomiting, or if you cannot pass gas or stool.
Local questions from Malout answered
Q: I am an arhtiya and sit most of the day. Do I really need surgery for a small bump? A small bump that goes in on lying down can be watched for a short time, but it will not heal. Most such hernias slowly enlarge. Dr Raman Garg tells you after an examination whether to plan the date now.
Q: I drive a truck towards Dabwali and Abohar. Is a hernia dangerous on long routes? It can be. Hours of vibration and straining at the wheel push the bowel into the sac. If the lump turns hard or painful on the road, stop and seek emergency care.
Q: I have a sugar problem and blood pressure. Will they refuse my surgery? No, but they are checked first. Once sugar and blood pressure are steady, surgery is usually possible. See hernia surgery for diabetes, BP and heart patients.
Q: My daughter-in-law has a swelling near her C-section scar. Where do we start? Send a photo on WhatsApp, then come for OPD. Our page on hernia surgery for women explains what to expect.
Emergency plan for Malout
If your hernia suddenly becomes very painful, hard and will not go back, and you vomit or cannot pass gas, do not wait to travel. Reach the nearest hospital emergency in Malout first for first aid and a check. Call BGCI at +91 82641-60001 from the road, any hour, and we will advise the doctor on the phone and prepare for your arrival. More on emergency hernia surgery.
Nearby towns we also serve
If you live around Malout, you may also know patients from Muktsar, Giddarbaha, Abohar and Dabwali. Our areas we serve page lists every town with distance and drive time.
How to book
- Call or WhatsApp +91 82641-60001 (primary) or +91 99885-03800.
- Write to bgcibathinda@gmail.com.
- Come to Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001, India.
- OPD runs Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. On Sunday only emergencies are seen.
Call +91 82641-60001 | WhatsApp your report | Book appointment
Call +91 82641-60001 WhatsApp your report Book appointmentContinue reading about hernia surgery in Bathinda or the wider hernia surgery in Punjab service, or go straight to book an appointment. This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg. Last updated: 8 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a laparoscopic hernia operation near Malout?
The nearest dedicated option for most Malout patients is Dr Raman Garg at BGCI, Bathinda, about 60 km away. The hospital has a laparoscopic operation theatre, an in-house lab and a cashless insurance desk.
Malout mein hernia ka operation kahan hota hai?
Malout ke mareez Bathinda mein BGCI hospital jaate hain, jahan Dr Raman Garg hernia ka operation karte hain. Malout se doori lagbhag 60 km hai aur safar mein takreeban 1 ghanta 15 minute lagte hain.
Malout vich hernia da operation kinne da hunda hai?
Ik paase da laparoscopic groin operation aam taur te Rs 50,000 ton 1,10,000 de vich hunda hai, average Rs 75,000. Open mesh operation Rs 30,000 ton 65,000 tak aunda hai. Pakka kharcha jaanch ton baad pata lagda hai.
How long does the operation itself take?
Most groin and navel repairs take about 45 to 90 minutes. A hiatus hernia repair takes longer, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. You are under anaesthesia the whole time and remember nothing of the procedure.
Can I travel back to Malout the next day?
Yes. Most keyhole patients are discharged within 24 hours and travel home by car. Sit with a cushion, avoid sudden braking if possible, and keep a pillow to hold over the belly during bumps.
Is a hernia in the scrotum a different problem?
It is usually an inguinal hernia that has travelled down. It can cause a heavy, swollen feeling on one side. A scrotal hernia needs examination and an ultrasound to separate it from hydrocele. See hernia vs hydrocele.
Hernia ke ilaaj ke liye kya parhez karna chahiye?
Eat light and high in fibre. Take dal, vegetables, fruit, curd and plenty of water. Avoid constipation, heavy lifting and long hours of coughing or straining. After surgery, Dr Raman Garg gives a simple diet sheet.
Will insurance cover my hernia surgery in Bathinda?
If your policy covers hernia surgery, cashless treatment is usually possible, since BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs. The desk handles pre-authorisation and confirms approval before you are admitted.
Is hernia mesh safe?
Modern surgical mesh is widely used and is the standard of care for most adult hernia repairs. Mesh lowers the chance of the hernia returning. Dr Raman Garg selects the type and size for your body. Read is hernia mesh safe.
Can a hernia be cured without operation?
No. A hernia is a gap in the muscle wall, and no tablet, exercise or home remedy closes it. A belt only supports the area for a while. Mesh repair is the only lasting treatment, and an early repair is smaller and simpler.