Now, govt trains its sights on ENT, Dental screenings

​Hyderabad: Telangana health department now shifted its focus on preparing an action plan for ENT (Ear Nose Throat) and Dental tests to cover the entire population of State. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had spelt out his plans recently that he wants ENT and dental tests to be conducted for every citizen living in Telangana, similar to eye screenings being done under Kanti Velugu.

Though health department is yet to get a minister in view of KCR taking time to finalise his Cabinet, the top brass is not wasting any time to chalk out their strategies. A preliminary meeting was held with senior officials to get an understanding of what needs to be done.

Sources stated that ENT and Dental tests are likely to be conducted simultaneously under one roof in a camp. A patient who registers name would be told to get check-ups done for ENT and Dental issues, one after the other. If we take a look at the Kanti Velugu programme, presently going on in all districts of Telangana, people are being screened for eye-related problems, reading ability, near and distant vision and due medication, glasses are being given accordingly. Those who require Cataract surgery (elders) or Glaucoma or Pterygium to improve eye vision are being referred to hospitals for further treatment.

ENT and Dental screenings will also be done in the same manner. If any minor treatments are to be done, they would be done at the camp itself and due medication would be given. However, if the person needs further tests or surgeries, then he or she would be referred to a district or area hospital in that area.

According to ENT doctors, most regular problems in public are ear infections (mostly in children), hearing problems, strep throat, sinusitis, which can be cured with medication or if required further tests have to be done. In case of dental doctors, fillings, scaling, removal of teeth could be done at the camp itself. Senior officials have asked the government ENT and Dental authorities about requirements including medical equipment like mobile dental chairs, medicines, hearing aids, staff needed including technicians etc. However, the big challenge is that there are not enough ENT and dental doctors in the government hospitals to be deputed for this programme for a good few months.

In case of Kanti Velugu, MBBS and Ayush doctors were deputed in camps in all districts to conduct preliminary tests aided by optometrists’ reports. Ophthalmologists came into the picture only at the time of operations be it Cataract and others. ENT and Dental camps would also see both government and private doctors (MBBS and dentists) giving minor treatments aided by audiologists and other technicians. Major operations and surgeries would, however, be done by specialist doctors. Government sources stated that a preliminary meeting was held to take inputs and suggestions from stakeholders and more clarity on how these camps would be held after a series of meetings over the next few weeks.