(a) whether severely impaired persons in speech and sounds are likely to be cured through newly advanced medical device called `Nucleus Cochlear Implant Facility`;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it has been aquired in large scale by AIIMS and all major hospitals making available such facilities to the needy persons; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. C.P. THAKUR)
(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 403 FOR 19.12.2001.
Nucleus Cochlear Implant Facility, an electronic device which is surgically implanted in a hearing-impaired individual`s ear, has been developed by Cochlear Corporation (Australia). This implant facility is suitable for only those hearing impaired who have a sensory loss of hearing, i.e. malfunctioning of inner and outer hair cells. At present 18 centres, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, Apollo Hospital etc. are offering this facility. The cost of the multichannel cochlear implant, including surgery, is approximately Rs.7.50 lakhs. In Government Hospitals, the patients are required to purchase the device at their own cost for implantation. There is no proposal to provide this facility free of cost in major hospitals due to the cost factor and other operational difficulties.