In the National Capital New Delhi, the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), has conducted 50 bilateral simultaneous cochlear implants in the last 18 months. The hospital has become the first government hospital across the country to accomplish these many successful implants. On this achievement, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services Lt Gen Daljit Singh and DGMS (Army) Lt Gen Arindam Chatterjee laurels to the Hospital staff.

The Ministry of Defence highlighted that a cochlear implant is a sophisticated medical device that enables hearing-disabled patients to come into the mainstream by making them hear through it. The cost of the equipment has always been a concern, making its outreach limited.

In March last year, the policy for cochlear implants for hearing-impaired patients in the Armed Forces was revised and simultaneous bilateral implants were included. This was the first policy in the country to bring medical standards at par with developed countries.