Sri Lanka hosts 14th SAARC ENT Congress

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 6, 2026

Colombo hosted the 14th SAARC ENT Congress, gathering over 400 specialists from South Asia and beyond to share advancements and address challenges in ear, nose, and throat care. The event emphasized regional collaboration to improve equitable access and quality of ENT services, with calls for stronger primary healthcare systems and focused efforts on early detection and treatment of head and neck cancers.

Colombo hosted the 14th SAARC ENT Congress from September 4 to 6, bringing together ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeons and allied healthcare professionals from across South Asia to discuss advances and challenges in managing ENT and head and neck conditions. The event marked the third time Sri Lanka has hosted this regional meeting since its inception in 1998 under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Association of Otolaryngologists.

The congress drew over 400 delegates, including 23 local and 52 international faculty members from SAARC member states—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—as well as from the United Kingdom, Australia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Plenary sessions, panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops addressed a broad range of topics from skull base surgery and cochlear implantation to the integration of artificial intelligence in otolaryngology and innovations in sleep surgery.

Dr. Amal Fernando, President of the College of Otorhinolaryngologists and Head and Neck Surgeons (CORLHNS) of Sri Lanka, emphasized the region’s shared challenges, including heavy patient loads, shortages in healthcare personnel, uneven access to medical facilities, scarcity of essential supplies, political instability, economic pressures, and the migration of trained professionals. Despite these obstacles, he highlighted a strong commitment among practitioners to share knowledge and improve care across countries.

“The theme of the congress, ‘Towards Equitable ENT Care, Integrating Excellence and Accessibility through a Regional Approach,’ captures the collective goal of enhancing the quality and reach of ENT services throughout South Asia,” said Dr. Fernando during the opening ceremony. He underscored the importance of continuous learning and peer collaboration in medicine, citing American medical writer Atul Gawande’s view that conferences serve as critical venues for questioning established practices, encountering new ideas, and understanding the evolving nature of disease management.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the event’s chief guest, highlighted the significant impact ENT disorders have on millions of lives in the region and praised healthcare professionals for their dedicated yet often unheralded service. Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, serving as guest of honor, urged practitioners to prioritize equitable access to care beyond specialist centers by strengthening primary healthcare networks and referral systems.

Dr. Jasinghe also drew attention to head and neck cancers, particularly oral cancers, as major public health concerns in South Asia due to frequent late-stage diagnoses. He called for intensified efforts in prevention, early detection, risk reduction, and timely treatment.

Keynote speakers included Prof. Tarunjit Singh Tatla, President of ENT UK, who addressed global trends in otolaryngology; Dr. Sathis Jain from Jaipur, India, who discussed advancements in cochlear implantation surgery; and Tim Mitchell, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, who reflected on medical leadership challenges.

The congress provided a platform for cross-border exchange of clinical experience and expertise aimed at enhancing ENT care standards in a region home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.