Nagpur: Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College and Hospital (IGGMC), Nagpur, has completed 125 cochlear implant surgeries, emerging as a key public sector centre for advanced hearing care, even as experts called for scaling up access to rural areas and expanding eligibility under govt schemes.Professor and head of ENT Dr Jeevan Vedi said several beneficiaries are now competing on the global stage, including a swimmer and an athlete, while others are pursuing higher education at premier institutions. “Otherwise, these children would have led a disabled life without cochlear aid,” he said. The scheme was initiated at IGGMCH in 2017.The milestone was highlighted during World Hearing Day 2026 recently, where doctors stressed that early detection and intervention in hearing loss among children remain critical to prevent long-term developmental delays.Dean Dr Ravi Chavan said IGGMCH is the first govt centre in the region to achieve this scale of cochlear implant procedures and urged local authorities to replicate such initiatives to benefit children in rural Nagpur.The programme also brought attention to funding and access gaps, with parents of beneficiaries acknowledging the role of district administration in supporting repair and maintenance costs of implants — often a major barrier after surgery.Civil Surgeon Dr Nivrutti Rathod said efforts will be made to extend cochlear implant benefits to rural populations, while also strengthening neonatal hearing screening through OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) at district hospitals to ensure early diagnosis.Dr Vedi also called for policy expansion to cover more children, noting that demand for such life-changing procedures continues to outpace current support systems.Officials said cochlear implant components, including batteries, are being distributed under schemes such as MJPJAY (now PMJAY) and through support from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.Doctors underlined that untreated hearing impairment affects not just health but also education and social integration, reinforcing the need to move ‘from communities to classrooms’ in ensuring universal hearing care for children.The event also showcased success stories of children who, after receiving implants, are now leading normal lives — highlighting both the impact of the programme and the need for its expansion.
