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New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Minister Satya Kumar Yadav emphasises preventive healthcare, holistic wellness
GUNTUR: Health, Medical and Family Welfare Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav underscored the importance of preventive healthcare and holistic wellness. Addressing the gathering in Guntur on Sunday, he noted the expansive reach of Arogya Bharati, operating in 95% of districts across the country with over 877 volunteers. He appreciated its grassroots work including the School Health Programme, Ayur-AI, and campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles. The minister expressed concern over the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to changing lifestyles and poor diets. He said 4.9 crore individuals were screened under NCD Survey 3.0, which identified 40 lakh diabetic and 30 lakh hypertension cases in Andhra Pradesh. He added that AI-driven predictive analytics is now aiding preventive planning and health resource allocation. The health minister emphasised promoting Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha, and Naturopathy. A proposal for Rs 1,000 crore has been submitted to the Centre to boost AYUSH infrastructure in the State. He urged doctors in private practice to volunteer at government hospitals once a week.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
100 children get one-time free replacement of hearing devices, many await call in Gujarat
Months after the Gujarat government told the state legislature that it would provide one-time replacement for hearing devices for free to children under the School Health Programme, in August 2024, 100 children on Thursday availed the benefit. Several others who have registered, however, are awaiting their turn. The government had allocated Rs 35 crore to make the replacement process available to 700 children across Gujarat. Children who had received cochlear implants under the government policy, but have had the speech processor broken or malfunctioning, will be covered. A government statement said that the state has identified 1,365 children who required replacement of cochlear implant processor kits. Of them, 700 children have to get it done this year. Announcing the decision, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, 'The state government has taken a sensitive decision to replace the cochlear implant processor completely free of charge in cases where the children have been given a free cochlear implant once by the government and for some reason this processor has deteriorated, broken, malfunctioned or stopped.' On Thursday, while the first cohort of 100 children needing replacement of cochlear implants and external speech processor machines were provided the same at GMERS Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, another 220 children will be covered in the next tranche. Speaking at the event, Minister Patel said, 'Children are the future of the country. The government will not allow a child's education to be stopped and their future to be dimmed due to hearing loss or the breakdown of a machine. And that is why it has decided on a one-time replacement for free in case the external speech processor is damaged or lost.' He added, 'If the machine was originally implanted at a private hospital, a nominal amount of 10 per cent of the total cost will be charged and the machine will be replaced.' Dr Nina Bhalodia, HoD of ENT Department at Sola Civil Hospital said, 'The first cochlear implants as well as the one-time replacement are being done for free. We test children at our audiology facility and then put them up on the waitlist.' Notably, the policy of the government will require patients to visit either Ahmedabad Civil Hospital or GMERS Sola MCH, both in Ahmedabad, to apply for replacement of the processor as only these two hospitals have audiology colleges. Now Nine-year-old, Rashi Talreja who got a unilateral cochlear implant in 2016 at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital when she was just 18-month-old. Her mother Bhoomi told The Indian Express, 'Like every gadget, this speech processor also requires maintenance, but the costs are very high. The biggest problem we have had is moisture, partly due to sweating. While it's not possible to afford a new machine that costs Rs 5 lakh, we have been having this one repaired and refurbished over the years. During these repairs, Rashi gets irritated due to sudden loss of hearing, loses interest in daily activities and immediately reverts to lip reading, causing reversal of gains made during her therapies.' Bhoomi added, 'While one time it was repaired for fre, under a three-year warranty cover, last year, the processor got affected by moisture again. The technician told us to put a cover on it but Rashi develops intense rashes and irritation due to the cover. Over time, we have had the frame changed and the wiring changed twice. Then, in June 2023, after an assessment at Sola Civil Hospital, we were told that a critical part of the processor itself had developed a fault and that it would cost Rs 3.5 lakh to replace just that part. We purchased refurbished spare parts for Rs 52,000, but these costs continue to escalate. We are trying to use tapes and other household remedies to keep the processor safe but she will need a new one soon.' Rashi has registered for a replacement and is now awaiting a call. The Indian Express also spoke to Dr Rajesh Vishwakarma, Director and Head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at Apollo Hospital in Ahmedabad, and one of the pioneers of the cochlear implants surgeries in India. He said, 'There are two parts to a cochlear implant surgery. During implant, the receiver stimulator has to be surgically placed inside the body.' Dr Vishwakarma added, 'The second part involves the speech processor unit, which is placed over the ear and comes with a warranty of 3 years. A number of accidents as well as wear and tear can occur. The wire may get damaged and must be repaired. We have seen a large number of families of patients who cannot afford the repair, which can cost anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000, or the replacement, which can cost Rs 5 lakh. They decide to just forego it.' Notably, there have been changes to this policy from time to time. Earlier, replacement of a broken speech processor was not available under subsidy. A few years ago, there was a 50% subsidy, which, in March 2024, was increased to a 90%. However, with most beneficiary families of this scheme coming from poor households, and a speech processor costing upwards of Rs 5 lakh, doctors had lobbied the government to make a one-time replacement completely free. In the last 10 years, 3,163 children in Gujarat have received cochlear implant surgeries at a cost of Rs 221 crore.
