The Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department of the Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt, has performed 50 simultaneous cochlear implantation operations in both ears of patients in the last 18 months and is the only one in the country to perform such a successful implantation operation. A government hospital has been built.
Cochlear implant is a state-of-the-art medical device which not only helps hearing impaired patients to hear but also enables them to join the mainstream. The cost of this implant has always been a concern, limiting its access. In most government-funded programs, children are given only one cochlear implant. However, the benefits of hearing in both ears far outweighed its cost and the Armed Forces Medical Services quickly realized this.
In March 2022, the policy on cochlear implants for hearing-impaired patients in the armed forces was revised to include simultaneous implantation in both ears. This was the country's first policy to bring medical standards at par with developed countries.
DG Armed Forces Medical Services Lieutenant General Daljit Singh and DGMS (Army) Lieutenant General Arindam Chatterjee have congratulated the Army Hospital (R&R) for this and wished the institution to get more recognition. Army Hospital (R&R) is the apex hospital of the armed forces and is currently commanded by Lieutenant General Ajit Neelakantan who is a specialist in ENT and Head and Neck Oncosurgery.