GT Hospital to offer voice surgery for transgender individuals

MUMBAI: The state-run Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital in Dhobi Talao will start a specialized voice surgery clinic to augment its existing dedicated transgender clinic opened a year ago. This new clinic will cater to individuals who have undergone gender reassignment surgery, addressing a crucial aspect often overlooked—the vocal expression of gender identity.
‘Feminising’ or ‘masculinizing’ the voices of transgender individuals is a nuanced procedure that has been both expensive and challenging to access in the private sector. Dr Nupur Nerurkar, an ENT surgeon specializing in voice surgery for over two decades, will offer this surgery in GT. The voice surgery OPD will operate every Tuesday and Thursday under the ENT department.
Dean of JJ Group of hospitals Dr Pallavi Saple said that GT was the first state hospital to establish a transgender ward. “The newly introduced voice surgery facility will offer the trans voice endoscopic Wendler feminization surgery (an advanced procedure combining voice modification and endoscopic techniques to enhance the feminization process in transgender individuals). It will be provided free of charge,” she said.
Rahul Narvekar, speaker of the Legislative Assembly, encouraged transgender individuals across the state and not just in Mumbai to take advantage of this facility being offered in a government setup.