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Pune dist has just one hospital for free cochlear implants
The RBSK programme, also known as the Child Health Screening and Early Intervention programme, was introduced in 2013
PUNE
During the State assembly monsoon session, Health Minister Tanaji Sawant recently announced that the State health department will raise the age limit for children who are eligible for free cochlear implants from two to five years. Additionally, the current financial aid will be increased from ₹5 lakh to 7 lakh.
Currently, Pune district has only one hospital that is empanelled under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK), which performs cochlear implants, leading to a meagre number of procedures being performed every year under the scheme.
During the assembly session on Wednesday, a member raised the lacunae in the RBSK scheme leading to hardship for children in need of cochlear implants.
Health minister, Tanaji Sawant in his reply to the query stated, “The state health department would increase the age limit for children eligible for free cochlear implants from current two years to five years so that maximum kids can benefit from the scheme. The current financial aid is limited to ₹5 lakh, which will be increased to ₹7 lakh. We will call for a meeting and discuss the implementation and the changes will be made in one month.”
The RBSK programme, also known as the Child Health Screening and Early Intervention programme, was introduced in 2013. Under this scheme, surveys and screening tests for children aged zero to 18 are conducted twice a year at government and government-aided schools in Maharashtra.
There are 42 hospitals in the state empanelled with the government for the RBSK programme. Children and adults who are hearing-impaired or severely hard of hearing are considered for cochlear implants. As the entire Pune district has just one hospital which performs cochlear implants since the inception of the scheme, only 33 procedures have been done in the district thus far.
Ashish Purnale, district coordinator of RBSK for the Pune district, said last year six cochlear implants were done in the district and in the current year three implants have been done.
“At present in the district, there is only one hospital in Chinchwad that performs cochlear implants under the RBSK scheme. Sometimes the children are taken to other hospitals and the procedures are done under the ADIP scheme. The number of beneficiaries remains low due to the age criteria and fewer hospitals who are affiliated with the State scheme,” he said.
