2,030 Patients Get Free Surgeries Under MMSY
CHANDIGARH, July 6:
Early diagnosis can prevent most ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases from becoming serious, doctors have said, urging people not to ignore persistent symptoms such as ear discharge, hearing loss, nasal blockage or mouth ulcers.
According to The Lancet, delays in diagnosing head and neck cancers are linked to more advanced disease and poorer outcomes, underscoring the importance of timely medical evaluation. Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), around 2,030 patients have received advanced ENT surgeries free of cost at government and empanelled private hospitals, with treatment worth nearly ₹5.25 crore.
Dr Nidhi Gupta, ENT Specialist at Civil Hospital, Rupnagar, said many patients delay treatment because ENT conditions are often painless in the early stages. “Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent permanent hearing loss, chronic sinus disease and advanced oral cancer,” she said. State Health Agency data shows that nearly 1,050 ear surgeries worth about ₹2.9 crore and around 900 nose and sinus surgeries worth over ₹2.1 crore have been performed under the scheme in the last five months. These include tympanoplasties, mastoidectomies, septoplasties, Functional Septo Rhinoplasties and Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgeries (FESS).
Doctors also flagged oral cancer as one of the most serious ENT conditions despite fewer cases. Around 80 patients underwent major oral and tongue surgeries worth nearly ₹25 lakh. Tobacco, gutka, areca nut and alcohol remain the leading risk factors. Dr Gupta advised people to seek immediate medical attention for persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, chronic nasal obstruction, hoarseness or mouth ulcers lasting more than two weeks, stressing that early treatment leads to simpler procedures, faster recovery and better long-term outcomes.
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