Srinagar, Apr 07: Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla has achieved a significant milestone by being empanelled for free cochlear implant surgery under the ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/ Fitting of Aids and Appliances) of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
Principal GMC Baramulla Dr. (Prof) Ruby Reshi congratulated the hospital and commended the efforts of the ENT department on this achievement. She praised Dr. Zafarullah, Assistant Professor of ENT, for his dedicated work on this project for nearly a year and a half.
Last year, experts from Aliyawar Jung National Institute for Hearing Impairment and Disabilities (AYJNIHID) Mumbai and AIIMS New Delhi inspected the ENT department for the availability of specific facilities and expertise required for the said surgery. During the inspection, Dr. Zafarullah, who has a fellowship in otology, gave a detailed presentation about the availability of trained ENT surgeon expertise, speech therapists, and equipment in the department necessary for the hospital’s empanelment.
Dr. Nazir Ahmad Khan, Head of the ENT department, thanked the Principal, Dr. (Prof) Ruby Reshi, for wholeheartedly supporting the department at every step of this journey. Prof. Nazir encouraged Dr. Zafarullah Beigh, who will be performing these surgeries under the mentorship of a senior ENT surgeon from Delhi.
Prof. Nazir said this facility would benefit all children aged 1 to 5 years with severe to profound hearing loss who do not receive any hearing benefit from conventional hearing aids (prelingual) and patients aged 5-18 years who have lost their hearing ability due to any cause after the development of speech (post-lingual). “This is one of the most advanced surgeries, and it costs lakhs of rupees. With this empanelment, GMC Baramulla will conduct these surgeries free of charge, and patients will receive cochlear implants as well as post-operative speech therapy under this scheme,” he said.
“GMC Baramulla invites and encourages all patients who qualify for this treatment to come and avail themselves of the services provided by the hospital,” an official statement issued here said.
