AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, and Boston Scientific India have joined hands to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Therapies, in a three-year initiative aimed at training doctors across India and taking advanced gastrointestinal care beyond major metropolitan centres.

 

The collaboration will focus on equipping physicians with the clinical expertise and procedural skills needed to perform advanced therapeutic endoscopy, addressing a critical gap in access to specialised gastrointestinal treatment, particularly in smaller cities and towns.

 

The initiative underscores a key challenge in healthcare delivery: access to advanced medical technology alone is not enough. Skilled doctors, trained nursing professionals and experienced endoscopy teams are equally essential to ensure these complex procedures are performed safely and effectively.

 

D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Chief of Gastroenterology at AIG Hospitals, said, "A patient requiring an advanced gastrointestinal procedure should not have to depend entirely on the expertise available in a major metropolitan city. If we want to improve access to specialised healthcare in India, we must invest in developing the skills of doctors who serve patients in smaller cities and towns. 

 

"At AIG Hospitals, we have always believed that meaningful clinical training goes beyond lectures. It requires hands-on experience, sound clinical judgement and continued mentorship. Through this collaboration, our focus is to extend these opportunities to more doctors, particularly from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, so that advanced therapeutic endoscopy can progressively become accessible closer to where patients live."

 

Under the MoU, AIG Hospitals will host structured training programmes annually in four specialised areas: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Cholangioscopy, Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoluminal Surgeries.

 

The programmes will combine classroom instruction, dedicated skill laboratories, hands-on training stations and live case observations. Led by AIG's experienced faculty and invited external experts, the courses will focus on procedural proficiency, clinical decision-making and standardised practices.

 

The training will extend beyond doctors to include endoscopy technicians and nursing professionals, recognising the importance of coordinated, multidisciplinary teams in delivering advanced gastrointestinal interventions. Digital learning, clinical observerships and continued mentorship will further support participants in applying their skills in their respective hospitals.

 

Brian Dunkin, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Endoscopy, Boston Scientific, said, “Advancing patient care often requires close collaboration among physicians who treat patients every day, researchers who generate scientific evidence, and innovators who develop new approaches to care.

 

“Together, they help identify unmet medical needs and ensure innovation is guided by evidence and focused on meaningful patient benefits. Our collaboration with AIG Hospitals reflects this approach, bringing together medical expertise and opportunities for knowledge-sharing and continued learning to support the advancement of endoscopic care.”

 

Madan Krishnan, Vice President and Managing Director, APAC Growth Markets, Boston Scientific, said, “At Boston Scientific, we believe that advances in medical technology must go with clinical education. 

 

"Our collaboration with AIG Hospitals reflects our commitment to supporting healthcare professionals with the knowledge and expertise needed to adopt minimally invasive therapies appropriately. By investing in long-term partnerships that support physician education and skill development, we aim to help expand access to advanced treatment options and improve patient care.”

 

The new Centre builds on the existing training partnership between the two organisations and brings multiple therapeutic endoscopy disciplines under a structured framework. A defined annual training calendar, a formal governance process and yearly reviews will help track progress and identify opportunities to expand the initiative.