Health min issues guidelines for safe ENT practice

The health ministry on Wednesday issued guidelines for safe ENT practice amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidelines are aimed at minimising the spread of Covid-19 infection among ENT doctors, nursing staff, support staff, patients and their attendants. According to the ministry guidelines, all patients entering the ENT OPD shall be thermally screened.
Covid-19 positive patients are to be operated only for emergency indications in designated operation theatres. Patients having symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 pertaining to both ENT symptoms or respiratory symptoms, should be seen in a separate Covid-19 screening clinic and not in the ENT OPD, it said. The ministry also recommended teleconsultation as an option. The ministry said that patients should be shifted to ENT ward only after they test Covid negative.