ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat)
The ENT Department at JDWNRH provides comprehensive care in ear, nose, throat, head, and neck conditions. Starting in 1983 with Bhutan’s first national ENT specialist, Dr. Tashi Wangchuk, the department has since expanded services with national and expatriate specialists and skilled technicians. Services now extend to regional hospitals, schools, and remote communities, with audiology and head and neck surgery services introduced to address Bhutan’s healthcare needs.
Vision
To lead in advanced ENT care, education, and community outreach, supporting Bhutan’s population with quality and accessible services.
Mission
- To deliver effective, patient-centered ENT and audiology care.
- To provide ongoing professional training and community outreach.
- To pioneer innovative treatments and prevention programs in ENT
Our Values
- Compassion: Providing empathetic care for all patients.
- Integrity: Ensuring honest, ethical practices in all our services.
- Collaboration: Working with other departments and communities.
- Commitment to Quality: Adopting advanced treatments for improved patient outcomes.
Services Provided
ENT Consultation
OPD consultations for common ENT conditions, audiology, and speech therapy.
Audiology Services
Audiometry, tympanometry, speech therapy, and hearing aid fitting. Special programs include free hearing aids for students and monks.
Head and Neck Surgery
- Specialized surgeries for head and neck cancers, thyroid cancer, and other conditions.
ENT Outreach Camps
- ENT camps across districts with the support of national and expatriate ENT teams.
Organogram
Clinic Schedule
Location: OPD Block A, Level 1; Ward Block G, Level 4
Days and Services:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: OPD and routine audiology tests
- Wednesday, Friday: OT, hearing aid fitting, high-risk neonatal screening
- Special Consultation Services: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Common ENT Conditions
- Ear: ASOM, CSOM, Otitis externa, Hearing loss, Tinnitus, Vertigo
- Nose: Allergic rhinitis, Rhinosinusitis, Nasal polyposis, Epistaxis
- Throat: Tonsillitis, Quinsy, Vocal cord nodules/polyps
- Head and Neck: Thyroid cancer, Cancer of head/neck, TB lymphadenitis
Head and neck cancers and hearing disabilities are prevalent in Bhutan, and the department is committed to early detection and intervention.
Recent Advances
- High-Risk Neonatal Hearing Screening: Early detection of hearing loss in newborns since 2016.
- Head and Neck Surgery: Fellowship-trained ENT surgeons performing complex surgeries.
- ENT Camps: Expanded outreach to reduce patient load at JDWNRH.
Future Plans
- Advanced Audiology Tests: ABR/BERA tests for children to assess hearing loss.
- Sleep Study Services: Polysomnography to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
- Ear Mould Lab: Custom ear moulds for improved hearing aid use.
- Microvascular Surgery: Expanding reconstructive surgery for head and neck cancer.
- Cochlear Implants and Speech Rehabilitation: Planned for early-diagnosed profound deafness.
- Allergy Clinic: Testing and prevention for allergy management.
- Laser Surgery: Specialized airway surgeries, especially for NICU graduates.
- Universal Hearing Screening: Expanding neonatal screening nationwide.
- Endoscopy and Skull Base Surgery: Minimally invasive techniques in collaboration with neurosurgery.
- Primary Ear Care Program: A proposed national initiative to reduce hearing disabilities.