News

Volume 2 Issue 1 - January 01, 2004

President to provide hope for the hearing impaired

DNIS News Network -- Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is taking initiatives to indigenously manufacture Cochlear implants and make them affordable for nearly 10 lakh patients in the country.

The Cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted in the Cochlea to provide electrical stimulation of the Cochlear nerve, giving a sensation of hearing to the patient. This implant is aimed at providing treatment for the congenitally deaf, and is extremely expensive to import. Made of platinum, the Cochlear implant is manufactured in only a few countries, which include the UK, Australia and Germany, and is priced at Rs 5 lakh for a single implant.

Due to its price, only a few people are able to afford its benefits. But this may soon change, with President Kalam taking an initiative to work towards manufacturing the implants locally.