Tropical Gastroenterology was created in the year 1986 by Professors Badri Nath Tandon and Samiran Nundy as a quarterly journal comprising literature and original work in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, gastrointestinal surgery and paediatric gastroenterology. Tropical Gastroenterology was initially advanced as a forum of sorts, to discuss relevant issues and make discoveries in the fore-mentioned fields. It was typically felt that gastroenterological diseases were the most common medical problems bothering the populations of developing countries and that the spectrum of diseases seen was considerably different from those seen in the West, which thus received lesser emphasis there. The Editorial team then, determined to sculpture practical and theoretical knowledge in this field through publishing and making widely available original research. We quote a line from the editorial of our first issue, “Why Tropical Gastroenterology? We were a little unhappy at paying half our month’s salary for journal subscriptions which contained articles entitled, ‘Plasma alpha-Amino-gamma-butyric acid to leucine ratio: non-specificity as a marker for alcoholism’. May we not read articles that tell us how to manage a duodenal ulcer patient who cannot afford antacids leave alone cimetidine?” At its inception funds were restricted and number of articles wanting. However there was never a dearth of journal staff, volunteer workers or doctors across various fields that faithfully devoted their time and ideas towards helping Tropical Gastroenterology grow, and still continue to do so. During the nascent years the Digestive Diseases Foundation provided financial support and now Tropical Gastroenterology is entirely funded through advertising itself. In 1988, Professor Nundy left the journal and Professor Bhupinder Singh Anand took his place; in 1991 Professor Subrat Acharya took over the editorship along with Dr Girish Pandey; under their instruction the journal grew steadily. After Dr Girish Pandey withdrew, Dr Vineet Ahuja was included in the Editorial Board in 2007.
The journal is associated with the Gastroenterology Research & Education Society and the Indian Association of Surgical Gastroenterology. Tropical Gastroenterology has exclusive sections pertaining to developments in endoscopic procedures, paediatric gastroenterology and surgical gastroenterology; a special column, ‘La Voix’ (The Voice) was incorporated in 2008. In 2008, the Tropical Gastroenterology website was created and the entire submission and review process was made on line. Included in every issue are the editorial, and the original articles, reviews and case reports. Tropical Gastroenterology runs on a no-profit-no loss principle. We receive papers from different parts of Asia and Africa, but mainly from India, and we would very much like to receive contributions from different countries, including some from South America. Over the years we have received increasing citations including those in books and international journals. The Editorial Board is committed to establishing Tropical Gastroenterology as a journal of the highest international standing. Carpe Diem.
