VGM Hospital launched a dedicated Dyspepsia Center in the hospital premises. It is an advanced center bringing international standard neuro gastroenterology care to the region.
The event was graced by distinguished guests including former Minister of the Government of Western Australia, Ms. Alanah Mc Tiernan; Minister to the for Multicultural and affairs Minister to the Attorney General of Australia, Mr. Yaz Mubarakai; and Member of the Legislative Assembly, Riverton (Australia), Dr. Jagadish Krishnan.
Speaking about the Dyspepsia Centre, Dr. V.G. Mohan Prasad, Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist, Hepatologist, Therapeutic Endoscopist, and Founder-Chairman of VGM Hospital, stated that indigestion is a common health issue affecting 20 to 30 percent of the global population. However, a clear cause is identified in only about 20 percent of patients, while the majority are categorized under functional dyspepsia. Such patients are often treated with general therapies without undergoing comprehensive evaluation.
A study conducted at VGM Hospital between 2022 and 2024 included 839 patients with unexplained dyspepsia. Of these, 55 percent were men, and 52 percent were found to have Helicobacter pylori infection. In the remaining patients, causes were identified through advanced diagnostic methods such as breath tests and electrogastrography.
Typically, patients with persistent dyspepsia symptoms undergo endoscopy and ultrasound examinations. If results appear normal, they are often labeled as having unexplained dyspepsia and given general treatment. The VGM Dyspepsia Centre aims to transform this approach by introducing precise, cause-based diagnostic methods.
The centre features radiation-free breath tests for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection. It also includes advanced diagnostic facilities to identify hidden causes such as carbohydrate intolerance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and gastric motility disorders. In addition, gut microbiome analysis and personalized dietary interventions are used to design targeted treatment plans for patients.
Dr. Mohan Prasad further emphasized that the future of treating functional gastrointestinal disorders lies not in addressing symptoms alone, but in identifying and treating the underlying causes.
The public has been advised not to ignore symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, early satiety, and nausea by dismissing them as simple gastritis, but instead to seek proper evaluation and treatment through advanced diagnostics.
The Australasian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association Conference and the Indian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association Conference are scheduled to be held in Coimbatore in April 2027 under the leadership of Dr. V.G. Mohan Prasad.
Radha Prasad, Managing Director; Dr. Madhura Prasad Suman and Dr. Vamsi Murthy, Directors of Endoscopy; Dr.Mithra, Head - Clinical Hepatology and Transplant Hepatology, Dr. Suman, Orthopedic Surgeon at VGM Hospital also joined the inauguration.
By integrating modern diagnostic and treatment methods aligned with global guidelines, the VGM Dyspepsia Centre aims to deliver international-standard gastroenterology care in the region and address long-standing unmet medical needs.