Dr Arun Bal

Who is Dr. Arun Bal and what does he specialise in?

Dr. Arun Bal is the Director of Diabetic Foot Surgery at S. L. Raheja Hospital — A Fortis Associate, Mahim West, Mumbai. With a career spanning more than four decades and a focus on diabetic foot care since 1986, he holds MBBS and MS (General Surgery) from the University of Mumbai (1977) and a Ph.D. in Political Science (Healthcare as a Human Right, 2005). He is internationally recognised for limb salvage and Charcot foot management.

What conditions and procedures does Dr. Arun Bal specialise in?

Dr. Arun Bal's clinical focus at SL Raheja Hospital in Mumbai covers the full spectrum of diabetic foot complications, from early-stage ulcers to complex reconstructive surgery. His areas of expertise include:

• Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management — assessment, advanced wound care, and surgical debridement
• Limb Salvage Surgery — individualized interventions to prevent major amputation
• Charcot Foot Diagnosis and Reconstruction — early detection, deformity correction, and offloading strategies
• Diabetic Foot Infections and Osteomyelitis — infection control and bone management
• Gangrene and Complex Lower-Extremity Wounds — staged surgical and wound-care protocols
• TCPO2 (Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure Measurement) — tissue oxygenation assessment to guide treatment and predict healing potential
• Rehabilitative Foot Surgeries — tendon balancing, reconstructive procedures, and pressure redistribution
• Preventive Diabetic Foot Care — risk screening, footwear guidance, and patient education programmes

What are Dr. Arun Bal's qualifications and academic background?

What professional roles has Dr. Arun Bal held throughout his career?

• Director, Diabetic Foot Surgery — S. L. Raheja Hospital — A Fortis Associate, Mumbai (current)
• Founder President and Patron — Diabetic Foot Society of India
• Chief Patron — Podiatry Surgical Society
• President — Association for Consumer Action on Safety and Health (ACASH)
• Ex Secretary — International Association of Diabetic Foot Surgeons, Denmark
• Vice President — International Surgical Society for Limb Salvage
• Ex Editor — Indian Journal of Medical Ethics
• Ex Convener, Ethics Committee — Medical Council of India (2010–2013)
• Expert Panel Member — Charcot Foot Guidelines, International Working Group on Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) — sole Asian representative

What awards and recognitions has Dr. Arun Bal received?

• Annual Prize and Oration — Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, USA (2019) — awarded for major contributions to diabetic limb salvage

What can patients expect from a consultation with Dr. Arun Bal at SL Raheja Hospital?

At SL Raheja Hospital — A Fortis Associate in Mahim West, Mumbai, a consultation with Dr. Arun Bal follows a structured, multidisciplinary approach. Each appointment is allocated 15 minutes and is designed to deliver a focused clinical assessment covering wound status, vascular perfusion, infection risk, and footwear needs.

Patients with complex presentations may undergo TCPO2 testing to evaluate tissue oxygenation and determine wound-healing potential before a treatment plan is finalised. Where surgery is indicated — whether limb salvage, Charcot foot reconstruction, or rehabilitative foot surgery — Dr. Bal coordinates care across surgical, vascular, and rehabilitation teams to ensure continuity.

Preventive consultations are equally available for patients with diabetes who have not yet developed foot complications, focusing on risk stratification, foot screening, and personalised footwear and care guidance.