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India is hosting the World Congress of Gastroenterology from September 30 through October 3, 2026 at Yashobhoomi, the India International Convention and Expo Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi, providing an opportunity to showcase India's scientific and clinical contributions while creating new international collaborations.
Jointly hosted by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG), the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL), Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of India (CCFI), The Indian Pancreas Club (IPC) and the Indian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association (INMA) in partnership with the World Gastroenterology Organisation, WCOG 2026 will bring together gastroenterology experts from around the world. The theme is “Transforming Gastrointestinal Health, Preserving Nature.”
The congress will focus on advances in diagnostics, endoscopy, therapeutics, the gut microbiome and AI-enabled healthcare. It will also examine the changing global burden of gastrointestinal disease. The experts reiterated the importance of recognising symptoms early. Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or sustained changes in bowel habits should not be ignored. Earlier testing and preventive interventions can help identify and manage several GI conditions before they progress.
Ahead of the 20th World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG) 2026, senior gastroenterologists called for greater awareness and earlier detection.
The discussion brought together Dr. Pramod Garg, Professor & Head, Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, AIIMS, New Delhi; President, Indian Society of Gastroenterology and Co-Chair, Steering Committee, WCOG 2026; Dr. Govind Makharia, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, AIIMS, New Delhi and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, WCOG 2026; Dr Shalimar, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr. Vineet Ahuja, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, AIIMS, New Delhi and Secretary General of Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of India.
Dr. Pramod Garg said, “India is facing an epidemiological shift at this time. We have made significant strides in controlling preventable disease through awareness, vaccinations and improving quality of life, however alongside these we are now seeing metabolic disease on a scale we have never handled before. Fatty liver is the clearest example. The disease is easy to find if we look for it, and we become aware only after the patient falls ill. This is a greater challenge than before- we must move away from only treating diseases- we must now actively promote good health”
Dr. Govind Makharia said, “India has never been short of gastroenterologists or technology. What we have lacked is the habit of taking early symptoms seriously and neglecting our health. We often misattribute our symptoms to stress or simply overlook them. Some even take over-the-counter medications for months before they reach a doctor. We must realize that every time we fail to identify a disease early, we lose the opportunity to potentially modify its natural history. Any symptom that persists beyond two to three weeks should be evaluated.”
Dr. Shalimar said, “WCOG 2026 comes at an important time for gastroenterology in India, particularly as we confront the growing burden of metabolic liver disease. With fatty liver disease affecting around one in three adults and children in India, understanding its links with diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidaemia is increasingly important. The conference will bring together national and international experts to discuss the latest evidence, emerging therapies and advances in care, while creating opportunities for young researchers to engage with experts and build new collaborations.”
Dr. Vineet Ahuja said, “Inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease were textbook rarities in India when I trained, and we now see them every week. Advances in endoscopy, artificial intelligence and microbiome research are improving diagnosis and treatment. The challenge now is to make these advances more widely accessible. With the advent of AI, we potentially stand at a new era of medicine- we must not dismiss it, but learn to adapt to it and improve the quality of care we provide to our patients. We now have a tool which can help overcome human and logistic limitations to ensure that the best care is provided to those who need it the most.”
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