Guwahati: Around 100 delegates and faculties will participate in the three-day 1st national hands-on training course and fellowship of the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopy here from Friday.

The programme, organised at the initiative of newly-elected president of the association and managing director of Swagat Super Speciality Hospital Dr Subhas Khanna, is the first-of-its-kind to be held here for surgeons from across the country.

Besides Assam, surgeons from New Delhi, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, Pune, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland and Meghalaya will attend the programme.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy has traditionally been practised by physicians and gastroenterologists but since the last couple of years the association has started the basic endoscopy course and fellowship for surgeons.

"Endoscopy should become a routine tool for surgeons as it is one of the easiest ways to diagnose early cancers and it is more relevant in the Northeast with a high of patients suffering from gastrointestinal cancer. The course will enable surgeons from the region to reach remote areas. The training course will comprise both theory and practical sessions," Dr Khanna said.

Apart from diagnostic endoscopy and colonoscopy, other procedures such as endoscopy for internal banding, spy glass cholangioscopy, stricture dilatation and endoscopic intragastic balloon will be demonstrated. Virtual simulators will be used for the training.

Junior health minister Pijush Hazarika will attend the inaugural function as chief guest.