Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112958730600.htm

Karnataka

Lower costs of cochlear implants: MLA

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Hemachandra Sagar, MLA and chairman of the Sagar Apollo Hospital, on Friday urged manufacturers of cochlear implants in India and abroad to supply it at an affordable price. He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day sixth annual conference of the Cochlear Implant Group of India (CIGI) -CIGICON-2008 at NIMHANS Convention Centre, here, and felicitating experts.

Shankar B. Medikeri, ENT surgeon and organising chairman of the conference, garlanded the guests and presented mementos.

Dr. Sagar said the cochlear implant procedure on deaf children cost anywhere between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 12 lakh in the U.S. and almost the same amount here. Poor parents in India could not afford it. He appealed to the manufacturers and the CIGI to bear a part of the expenditure.