360 million people have disabling hearing loss, this represents >5% of the world’s population
70% of new cancers will occur in the Developing World by 2030
Developing World ENT services are characterised by shortages of medical personnel, poor health infrastructure, outdated equipment, and pathology often not seen in the Developed World such as TB, HIV, advanced cancer, and tropical diseases.
ENT is therefore practised differently in Developing World countries e.g. open partial laryngectomy, oncologic surgery without radiation or chemotherapy, open sinus surgery, and hammer-and-gouge mastoid surgery.
Opportunities for training are limited, and ENTs often cannot afford textbooks or attend conferences and courses.
However, special knowledge and expertise do exist in Developing World countries that need to be harnessed to improve the quality of ENT practise in the Developing World and to develop its special brand of ENT.