In a major public healthcare initiative, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched a fully free cochlear implant surgery facility across its tertiary care network.
Previously considered one of the most expensive and inaccessible medical procedures, cochlear implant surgery is now available free of cost for children across Punjab. Following its successful launch at Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar, the state has established a robust four-node surgical infrastructure to systematically address childhood deafness.
The facility is now operational at:
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Patiala
- Government Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, SAS Nagar
This statewide institutional network ensures that advanced hearing restoration treatment is now accessible to children and adults suffering from hearing impairment without financial constraints.
Cochlear implant procedures are among the costliest treatments in modern healthcare. In the private sector, the cost typically ranges between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh per ear, often pushing families into severe debt or forcing them to forgo treatment altogether.
The Bhagwant Mann government has eliminated this financial barrier entirely. Under the initiative, the implant device, surgery, hospitalization, and post-operative care are provided completely free of cost. Families will no longer have to risk their financial future to secure their child’s ability to hear and speak.
Hearing impairment remains one of India’s most under-recognized public health challenges. Approximately 6.3% of India’s population is affected by hearing loss. Nearly 5 out of every 1,000 newborns in India are born with severe hearing impairment — a rate higher than the global average. Additionally, an estimated 5% of students with hearing disabilities remain undiagnosed and are often misclassified as slow learners or underperformers.
With this initiative, Punjab positions itself as a leader in inclusive and financially secure healthcare delivery, aiming to provide dignity, opportunity, and long-term social inclusion to affected children and their families.
