Healing Hands Clinic turns proctology into a recognized specialty in India

By AI, Created 8:51 AM UTC, May 27, 2026, /AGP/ – Healing Hands Clinic says it has treated more than 1 million patients since opening in Pune in 2013, helping establish proctology as a standalone discipline in India. The clinic’s growth, training programs and surgical firsts have expanded specialized anorectal care across the country.

Why it matters: - Healing Hands Clinic says proctology has moved from a stigma-heavy, under-served corner of general surgery into a recognized medical discipline in India. - The clinic says more than 50% of the Indian population may experience haemorrhoids, anal fistulas, fissures, rectal prolapse or chronic constipation at some point in life. - The clinic says more than 1 million patients have been treated since 2013.

What happened: - Dr. Ashwin Porwal founded Healing Hands Clinic in Pune in 2013. - The clinic expanded from a single consulting room to a pan-India network. - Dr. Porwal set out to establish proctology as a standalone super-specialty in Indian medicine. - Dr. Porwal trained in proctology in Rome after graduating from B.J. Medical College, Pune. - Dr. Porwal was mentored by Dr. Antonio Longo, the colorectal surgeon associated with MIPH and STARR procedures.

The details: - Healing Hands Clinic says it introduced the Leonardo Laser to India for treating haemorrhoids, fistulas and fissures. - The clinic says Dr. Porwal developed DLPL, or Distal Laser Proximal Ligation, for complex and recurrent fistulas. - Dr. Porwal performed the first STARR surgery for chronic constipation in Maharashtra and has done the highest number of STARR procedures in Asia, according to the clinic. - Dr. Porwal was the first surgeon in India to perform POPS, or Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery. - In 2019, Dr. Porwal treated a 110-centimeter horseshoe-shaped fistula that entered the Limca Book of Records. - Healing Hands Clinic launched India’s first MUHS-approved Fellowship in Proctology. - The fellowship created a formal training path for surgeons to qualify in proctology as a distinct discipline. - Surgeons from India and other countries train at the clinic, and many have started their own proctology practices. - Dr. Porwal’s research has been cited more than 530 times in peer-reviewed medical literature. - Dr. Porwal became the first Indian surgeon to present orally at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. - Dr. Porwal is one of only three Indians recognized by the Russian Society of Colorectal Surgery. - He has presented at conferences in the United States, Europe and Abu Dhabi. - The clinic says its grade-wise treatment protocol gives patients the same care pathway across centers in Nagpur, Mumbai and Bengaluru. - Grade I haemorrhoids are treated with Pilokit, described as India’s first plant-based patented piles medication developed by the clinic. - Advanced cases are treated with Laser Hemorrhoidopexy or Stapler Surgery, also known as MIPH. - The clinic uses the MCDPA approach: Medicine, Constipation management, Diet, Physiotherapy and Ayurveda. - Each center includes nutritionists, physiotherapists and trained paramedical staff. - Healing Hands Clinic was ranked No. 1 in the Best Gastroenterology Hospital Rankings 2025 by Outlook and NEB Research. - The clinic says it is India’s first and only certified proctology clinic with NABH accreditation. - The clinic is also ISO certified and ECTA recognized. - The clinic has been featured in Forbes India, The Times of India and The Indian Express. - The Healing Hands Foundation, founded in 2017 by Dr. Ashwin Porwal and Dr. Snehal Porwal, says it has delivered free medical care and awareness to more than 200,000 people across 270 villages.

Between the lines: - Healing Hands Clinic’s strategy appears to combine specialization, standardization and training to build a category rather than just a brand. - The fellowship and surgeon training network extend the clinic’s influence beyond its own patient base. - The rural outreach work suggests the clinic is also trying to reduce stigma and expand awareness in areas where patients may still avoid care.

What’s next: - Healing Hands Clinic says it is working toward a 100-center footprint. - The clinic’s model suggests future growth will depend on scaling its standardized protocols and fellowship pipeline. - The foundation is likely to remain part of the broader effort to expand access and awareness beyond major cities.