Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has urged people to seek timely treatment for ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems, saying early diagnosis can prevent serious complications and major surgeries.
He said that under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), around 2,030 patients have received free advanced ENT surgeries at government and empanelled private hospitals, with treatment worth nearly ₹5.25 crore.
ENT specialist Dr. Nidhi Gupta of Civil Hospital, Rupnagar, said many people ignore persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, blocked noses or mouth ulcers because these conditions are often painless in the early stages. Delayed treatment, she warned, can result in permanent hearing loss, chronic sinus disease or advanced oral cancer.
According to State Health Agency (SHA) data, Punjab has performed around 1,050 ear surgeries worth ₹2.9 crore and nearly 900 nose and sinus surgeries worth over ₹2.1 crore in the last five months under the scheme. These include procedures such as tympanoplasty, septoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery.
Doctors also warned that a mouth ulcer lasting more than two weeks should never be ignored, as it may be an early sign of oral cancer. Tobacco, gutka, areca nut and alcohol remain the leading risk factors.
Health experts stressed that warning signs such as persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, chronic nasal blockage, recurrent sinus infections, hoarseness and non-healing mouth ulcers should be evaluated promptly, as early treatment can prevent long-term complications and improve recovery.
