By Dr.Harika on February 16, 2017

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences

1. Prevalence of Deafness: The article highlights that around 7% of India’s population suffers from profound deafness. This significant percentage underlines the widespread nature of the issue and the need for effective solutions.
2. Cochlear Implant Surgeries: Despite the high prevalence of deafness, the article notes that cochlear implant surgeries have been relatively limited in India. As of the time of the publication, only about 5000 cochlear implant surgeries had been conducted, primarily in private health facilities and often at the expense of the patients.
3. Access to Cochlear Implant Technology: The article discusses the challenges in making cochlear implant technology widely accessible in India. These challenges include the high costs associated with the surgery, a lack of trained manpower to conduct such surgeries, and limited government engagement in this area due to other pressing health needs.
4. National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD): The journal also mentions the NPPCD, initiated in 2006, which marked a renewed interest in addressing this public health issue. The program aims to tackle the challenges of deafness, including increasing access to cochlear implants.
5. Efforts to Improve Accessibility: There is a discussion on the efforts made to increase the penetration of cochlear implant surgery among the masses. This includes addressing the inhibitory costs and improving training and resources for such surgeries.