A child unable to hear clearly because of repeated ear infections, an adult struggling to breathe through the nose for years, or a tobacco user ignoring a persistent mouth ulcer—ENT specialists say these are among the most common conditions for which patients delay seeking treatment, often allowing simple problems to progress into serious illnesses requiring major surgery.
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) disorders affect people of all ages and range from chronic infections and hearing loss to sinus disease and cancers of the oral cavity and tongue. While many of these conditions are highly treatable, doctors stress that early diagnosis remains the key to preventing long-term disability and improving survival.
According to The Lancet, delays in the diagnosis of head and neck cancers are strongly associated with more advanced disease at presentation and poorer outcomes, reinforcing the importance of early evaluation of persistent symptoms.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “Through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), eligible patients in Punjab are receiving advanced ENT procedures free of cost at government and empanelled private hospitals. According to State Health Agency data, around 2,030 patients have received ENT surgeries under the scheme, with treatment worth approximately ₹5.25 crore.”
Dr Nidhi Gupta, Medical Officer (ENT Specialist), Civil Hospital, Rupnagar (Ropar), said, “People often ignore persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, a blocked nose or mouth ulcers because these conditions are usually painless in the beginning. Unfortunately, delayed treatment can lead to permanent hearing impairment, chronic sinus disease or advanced oral cancer.”
Recent data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, shows that around 1,050 ear surgeries, worth nearly ₹2.9 crore, were performed in the last 5+ months. These included 897 different types of tympanoplasties, 88 radical mastoidectomies, along with surgeries for trauma and pinna tumours.
Breathing problems are often ignored
Persistent nasal blockage is frequently dismissed as a minor issue, despite its impact on sleep, work performance and quality of life. The doctor said that chronic sinus infections, a deviated nasal septum, enlarged turbinates and nasal polyps are the major causes of long-standing breathing difficulty.
As per SHA, Punjab, the state recorded nearly 900 nose and sinus surgeries, worth over ₹2.1 crore, including 395 Functional Septo Rhinoplasties, 354 Septoplasties, 227 Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgeries (FESS), and other corrective procedures under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana.
_Oral cancer: fewer cases, but far greater severity_
Although oral and tongue surgeries account for fewer cases, specialists say they are among the most complex ENT procedures, often due to late diagnosis.
Around 80 patients underwent major oral and tongue surgeries, worth nearly ₹25 lakh, including:
* 47 oral cavity, sinus and laryngopharynx tumour excisions
* 13 tongue growth excisions with neck dissection and free flap reconstruction
* 7 composite resections with reconstruction
* Hemiglossectomy and other major procedures
She added that oral cancer often begins as a non-healing ulcer, a white or red patch, tongue pain, or difficulty swallowing. Tobacco, gutka, areca nut and alcohol remain the leading risk factors.
Awareness can prevent major disease
Doctors say most ENT complications are preventable or treatable if addressed early. Lastly, she emphasised that while access to advanced surgery under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is improving care delivery, the greatest impact will come from early diagnosis, awareness and timely intervention, which can prevent disease progression and reduce the need for major surgery