Dr Arif Raza Ahmed
Surgical Gastroenterologist
Unaffordable treatment costs and poor patient awareness contribute to the intricacy of timely interventions, and thus several patients continue to remain underserved despite growing numbers of specialists in metro cities . Rising above this challenge is Dr Arif Raza Ahmed, a surgical gastroenterologist with outstanding academic qualifications and a mission to provide advanced gastrointestinal care to patients in North Karnataka.
What differentiates him from other healthcare professionals is not only his surgical abilities but also his patient-focused mentality. He emphasizes clear communication, empathy, and lengthy explanations about every patient’s condition and what can be done for it, so individuals learn not just the reason behind their problems but also how to heal from them. “Every patient deserves not just treatment, but understanding and confidence in their care”, says Dr Arif. By combining advanced techniques with compassionate care, he has built a practice that bridges the gap between metropolitan healthcare standards and local accessibility.
Making Advanced Gastro Care Accessible & Affordable
Dr Arif Raza Ahmed completed his MBBS from KIMS Hubli and MS General Surgery from KEM Mumbai, one of India’s most renowned medical colleges. With a driving passion to super-specialize, he gained a super-specialization in surgical gastroenterology from Hyderabad’s Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, ranking sixth in India for the entrance exam. He gained extensive experience in advanced hepatobiliary, colorectal, and gastrointestinal surgeries, as well as high-level laparoscopic surgery.
After completing his super-specialization in 2018, he chose to return to his hometown of Gulbarga rather than practice in a metro city, with the goal of serving people in tier two and rural areas. Since 2019, he has been providing comprehensive care for gastro-related diseases in Gulbarga, making specialized services accessible to the local population. He is now working at NK Hospital, Gulbarga, Karnataka, where he continues to lead the department of surgical gastroenterology and deliver advanced care with a patient-centered approach.
Dr Arif Raza Ahmed’s USP is the emphasis on affordability without sacrificing the quality. Cutting-edge procedures such as liver, pancreatic, and cancer surgeries are otherwise exorbitant in metros, but he does them at approximately 30 to 40 percent of the traditional price tags.
Additionally, he works with government schemes such as Karnataka local government health services, Sanjeevani, and the Pradhan Mantri Yojana as part of its package to provide free or subsidized surgery wherever feasible, with an emphasis on working with the underprivileged. “Cost should never be a barrier to receiving world-class surgical care”, Dr Arif notes. This commitment to balancing cost, accessibility, and quality distinguishes him among gastroenterologists and has earned him recognition from patients and local medical communities alike.
Surgical Excellence Rooted in Training, Patient Care Philosophy & Community Commitment
A major part of Dr Arif Raza Ahmed’s operative dexterity and confidence can be attributed to his training at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad. Exposure to a wide range of surgical cases and tutelage under leading experts enabled him to gain not only technical competencies but also a deep respect for patient care extending beyond the operating room. He emphasizes patient education of their condition, of potential complications, and of walking them through post-operative recovery, establishing trust and informed decision-making.
He has been committed to building a team that would deliver high-quality gastrointestinal care regionally in the course of his professional life. He has performed between 2,500 and 3,000 operations, of which 450 to 500 annually, with a majority of them being complex hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and colorectal procedures. Even though he has not yet been recognized nationally, his efforts have been acknowledged at the regional and community level and valued by departmental organizations, community organizations, and medical societies. His emphasis on good communication, empathy, and patient-centeredness stands out in an era where technical proficiency alone is no longer acceptable.
Future Plans & Vision
Dr Arif Raza Ahmed will enhance Gulbarga and nearby districts’ medical care by a 200-bed super-specialty hospital, complete with state-of-the-art ICUs, modular operating rooms, top-of-the-line diagnostics, and end-to-end gastroenterology care. Under NK Hospital, Liver and kidney transplant and robotic surgery will follow in his next priorities, bringing advanced care to an area that otherwise had none. By bridging technology, price, and patient care, he plans to bring high-quality health care services to the people of North Karnataka similar to urban cities. Through this vision, he is revolutionizing the accessibility of local health care while continuing to offer outstanding surgical care.
Dr Arif Raza Ahmed’s USP is the emphasis on affordability without sacrificing the quality. Cutting-edge procedures such as liver, pancreatic, and cancer surgeries are otherwise exorbitant in metros, but he does them at approximately 30 to 40 percent of the traditional price tags.
Additionally, he works with government schemes such as Karnataka local government health services, Sanjeevani, and the Pradhan Mantri Yojana as part of its package to provide free or subsidized surgery wherever feasible, with an emphasis on working with the underprivileged. “Cost should never be a barrier to receiving world-class surgical care”, Dr Arif notes. This commitment to balancing cost, accessibility, and quality distinguishes him among gastroenterologists and has earned him recognition from patients and local medical communities alike.
Surgical Excellence Rooted in Training, Patient Care Philosophy & Community Commitment
A major part of Dr Arif Raza Ahmed’s operative dexterity and confidence can be attributed to his training at Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad. Exposure to a wide range of surgical cases and tutelage under leading experts enabled him to gain not only technical competencies but also a deep respect for patient care extending beyond the operating room. He emphasizes patient education of their condition, of potential complications, and of walking them through post-operative recovery, establishing trust and informed decision-making.
Under NK Hospital, Liver and kidney transplant and robotic surgery will follow our next priorities, bringing advanced care to an area that otherwise had none
He has been committed to building a team that would deliver high-quality gastrointestinal care regionally in the course of his professional life. He has performed between 2,500 and 3,000 operations, of which 450 to 500 annually, with a majority of them being complex hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and colorectal procedures. Even though he has not yet been recognized nationally, his efforts have been acknowledged at the regional and community level and valued by departmental organizations, community organizations, and medical societies. His emphasis on good communication, empathy, and patient-centeredness stands out in an era where technical proficiency alone is no longer acceptable.
Future Plans & Vision
Dr Arif Raza Ahmed will enhance Gulbarga and nearby districts’ medical care by a 200-bed super-specialty hospital, complete with state-of-the-art ICUs, modular operating rooms, top-of-the-line diagnostics, and end-to-end gastroenterology care. Under NK Hospital, Liver and kidney transplant and robotic surgery will follow in his next priorities, bringing advanced care to an area that otherwise had none. By bridging technology, price, and patient care, he plans to bring high-quality health care services to the people of North Karnataka similar to urban cities. Through this vision, he is revolutionizing the accessibility of local health care while continuing to offer outstanding surgical care.
