Introduction

The Society of Otolaryngologists of Nepal (SOL Nepal) is an organization of Otorhinolaryngologists. It was established on 6 June, 1998 (26 Chaitra, 2054) in the Chief District Officer (CDO) office, Kathmandu with the registration number: 728/054/55. Since then, all ENT related health professionals have this organization as a platform to discuss and plan in an organized way to provide quality ENT and Head & Neck services to the people of Nepal. Till may 2012, SOL Nepal has 80 life members, 4 Honorary Members, 3 Foreign Members and  9 Associate Life Members.

The society has been organizing regular CME programmes so that all members of the society can become updated in their field. Apart from CME Programmes, SOL Nepal is organizing National, Regional and International Conferences which help the members to share the experiences and knowledge with the international faculties as well.

The Society strongly believes in quality care in ENT and Head & Neck Surgery. It is involved in decision making with regard to quality ENT care. SOL Nepal has recently started publication of its own official journal.

 

History:

The concept of forming a society of ENT specialists of Nepal was started in 1997, during an informal gathering at Dr. Som Nath Aryal's residence, who then was consultant ENT surgeon working at Bir Hospital. Prof. R.C.M. Amatya, Prof. Bimal Sinha, Dr. Y.B. Bhandari, Dr. R.K. Singh, Dr. Madhav Dahal, Prof. D.K. Baskota, Dr. Gopal Gyanwali and Prof. Rajendra Guragain were present in the meeting. Prof. Bimal Sinha took the responsibility of preparing the constitution of the society. A rough draft was prepared and a series of discussions and meetings were held and necessary corrections made when & wherever required. Dr. L.R. Malla, Dr. G.B. Thapa, Dr. Anil Jha, Prof. Hari Bhattarai, Dr. Y.B. Bhandari, Dr. R.K. Singh and Prof. Rajendra Guragain contributed significantly in the series of discussions to finalise the draft. Finally, a draft of the constitution was prepared and an ad hoc executive committee with Prof. R.C.M. Amatya as the first president and Dr. S.N. Aryal as the first vice president was formed. But the registration of the society at the CDO office was somehow delayed for nearly one year due to various reasons. Finally, it was registered at the CDO office in Kathmandu in 1998 (Reg.No.: 728/054/55; PAN number: 301761480).

The first election for the executive committee was held on 31 Oct 1998 (14 Kartik, 2055). Since then, the subsequent elections for the executive committee were held regularly on 14 Kartik 2055, 4 Falgun 2057, 11 Magh 2059 and 19 Mangsir 2063. The executive committees were elected unanimously in all the elections.

Second SAARC ENT Congress 2000

The decision to host the second SAARC ENT congress was in fact taken even before the executive body of SOL Nepal was officially formed. Prof. Rakesh Prasad and Prof. Hari Bhattarai played a significant role in bringing the congress to Nepal. The decision was taken at a meeting held at T.U. Teaching Hospital under the chairmanship of Dr. L.N. Prasad, the first ENT surgeon of Nepal. An organizing committee was then formed.

The second SAARC ENT congress was held at the Birendra International Convention Centre from May 24 to 27, 2000. The conference was inagurated by Her Late Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah who was accompanied by Late Crown Prince Deependra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. One of the key attractions of the inaugural function was the honor given to Dr. L.H. Hiranandani from India as the Surgeon of the Millenium. The theme of the congress was “Extending ENT Services to the Community.” The conference was a grand success and is still fondly remembered by all the participants.

 

7th SAARC ENT Congress 2011

Theme : “Future ENT Head and Neck Surgery in developing countries”

7th SAARC ENT Congress was held at Army Officer’s club Kathmandu from 25-27 may 2011. The Conference was inaugurated by honorable President of the Republic of Nepal Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. The organizing committee was led by Prof. Bimal Kumar Sinha. Guest oration was deliver by Prof. Mohan Kameshwaran (India) .

In the 7th SAARC ENT Congress all together 3 key note address, 8 panel discussion, 50 guest Lecture, 86 free papers and 24 posters were presented.

The congress was attended by 415 delegates from around the globe and it was a grand success.

First National Conference1999

The 1st National conference was held in Kathmandu on 9 April, 1999 (26 Chaitra, 2055). The theme was “Better ENT services in the Next Century”. The Chief guest was Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, President of Raj Shabha Standing Commiittee.

Second National SOL Conference 2001
The second National SOL Conference was held at Biratnagar under the chairmanship of Dr. Madan Koirala on 4 Chaitra, 2057 at Hotel Zenith, Biratnagar. Several international delegates also participated in the conference. The conference was inaugurated by then Late Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Third National SOL Conference 2003
The 3rd National conference was held in BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur on 25th January, 2003 (11 Magh, 2059) under the chairmanship of Dr. Ghisup N. Prasiko. The conference was inaugurated by then honorable minister for health, science and technology Prof. Upendra Devkota. More than 40 ENT surgeons from Nepal and abroad participated. The theme of the conference was “Prevention and Early detection of Head and Neck Cancer”. More than 15 papers were presented in the conference.

Fourth National SOL Conference 2005
The 4th National conference was held in Hotel Himalaya, Kupondole, Kathmandu from 5th to 8th December, 2006 (19 to 22 Falgun, 2063) under the chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Guragain. The conference was inaugurated by the Vice chancellor of Kathmandu University Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma.
Highlights:
Live surgical demonstrations of head & neck lesions at TU Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu.
Invited faculties were:
Prof. A. K. D’Cruz, Professor & Chief, Head & Neck unit, Tata memorial hospital.
Dr. Mandhar Despande, Tata Memorial hospital, Mumbai.
Dr. Alok Thakar, Associate Prof. AIIMS, New Delhi
Dr. Hiroshi Ogasawara, Japan
Honorary membership award:
The following international dignitaries were awarded honorary membership of SOL Nepal during the inaugural ceremony.
Mrs Claudia Walters, USA
Dr. Hiroshi Ogasawara, Japan

Fifth National SOL conference
The 5th National conference was held at Hotel Pokhara Grande, Pokhara on 20th & 21st February, 2009 (9-10 Falgun, 2065) under the chairmanship of Dr. Toran K.C. The Oration was given by the guest Dr. Chittaloor Madhu Sudana Rao from India. The theme of the conference was “Minimal Invasive Surgery in Otorhinolaryngology"