Mukhya Mantri Sarvan Ashirwad Yojana, ‘Sunan Da Haq Sabda’, ensures 100% free cochlear implants for every eligible child in Punjab
CHANDIGARH, February 27: In a landmark intervention that redefines public healthcare delivery in the country, the Government of Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has operationalized high-end cochlear implants surgeries completely free of cost across its tertiary care network. What was once an unaffordable medical procedure reserved largely for the privileged is now a guaranteed right for children across Punjab.
Following a successful procedure at Government Medical College, Amritsar, the Bhagwant Mann Government has established a robust four-node surgical framework to systematically eliminate childhood deafness. Cochlear implant surgeries are now fully operational at Government Medical College & Hospital, Amritsar; Government Medical College & Hospital, Patiala; Government Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot; and Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, Government Medical College & Hospital, SAS Nagar. This statewide institutional network ensures that access to advanced hearing restoration is no longer geographically restricted.
Cochlear Implants : Breaking the Financial Barrier*
Cochlear implants are among the most expensive medical interventions available in modern healthcare. In the private sector, the procedure typically costs between ₹6,00,000 and ₹10,00,000 per ear. For most families, this expense translates into catastrophic healthcare debt or the heartbreaking decision to forgo treatment altogether.
The Bhagwant Mann Government has dismantled this financial barrier entirely. Under its initiative, the implant device, surgery, hospitalization, and post-operative rehabilitation are being provided completely free of cost. Families are no longer forced to mortgage their future to secure their child’s ability to hear and speak. The State’s intervention represents full financial protection, shielding households from crippling expenditure while restoring dignity and opportunity to affected children.
Cochlear Implants : Addressing a Silent Crisis*
Hearing impairment remains one of India’s most under-recognized public health challenges. Approximately 6.3% of the Indian population suffers from significant hearing loss. Nearly 5 out of every 1,000 newborns in India are born with profound hearing loss, a rate significantly higher than the global average. Additionally, an estimated 5% of students have undiagnosed hearing issues, often mislabeled as slow learners or under-performers.
These figures reveal a crisis that is not only medical but deeply social and educational. Children with untreated hearing loss frequently face stigma, exclusion, and lost developmental potential. By institutionalizing free cochlear implant services, Punjab has directly confronted this silent epidemic.
*The Golden Window: Acting Within Time*
Medical science is unequivocal about the importance of early intervention. The brain’s plasticity for language development is highest between 0 to 3 years of age. This period is the golden window for cochlear implantation, during which children can develop speech and language at par with normal-hearing children.
Between the ages of 3 to 5 years, surgery still offers substantial benefit but requires intensive Auditory-Verbal Therapy to compensate for lost developmental time. Beyond this stage, effectiveness declines sharply and surgery becomes ineffective.
The consequences of delay are profound. Without timely intervention, children face permanent speech disability, social isolation, limited educational opportunities, and lifelong dependency. A single well-timed surgical procedure can prevent decades of marginalization. The Punjab Government has expanded access across all Government Medical Colleges. They have ensured that the golden window is not missed due to financial hardship. Infrastructure limitations also do not hinder this access.
*Punjab Leading the Way After National Scheme Closure*
In November 2023, the Government of India closed its cochlear implant scheme. This action made access to this life-changing intervention uncertain for countless children. At that critical juncture, the Punjab Government acted decisively by launching the Mukhya Mantri Sarvan Ashirwad Yojana, “Sunan Da Haq Sabda”.
Under this initiative, Punjab provides 100% state-funded cochlear implant surgeries completely free of cost for resident children. The State covers all expenses. This includes the implant device, surgery, and hospitalization. At the same time, it strengthens Government Medical Colleges to deliver advanced, specialized care with the highest standards. This proactive response ensured continuity of care and positioned Punjab as a national leader in equitable tertiary healthcare.
Punjab’s Health Minister Balbir Singh has reiterated that the Bhagwant Mann Government is committed to building an inclusive healthcare system. They aim to make advanced medical care accessible to every child. This is irrespective of financial background. “With this vision, the Bhagwant Mann Government has launched the Mukhya Mantri Sarvan Ashirwad Yojana, ‘Sunan Da Haq Sabda’, ensuring that no child is deprived of hearing due to economic constraints. Under this initiative, the Government is providing 100% free cochlear implant surgeries, bearing the entire cost including the implant device, surgery, and hospitalization.”
*A Vision for Inclusive Healthcare*
The Punjab Health Minister further informed, “Cochlear implant surgeries have commenced in Government Medical Colleges. These surgeries are now available in all four Government Medical Colleges of Punjab, completely free of cost. This marks a significant step toward equitable, specialized, and compassionate healthcare for all.”
This initiative is not merely a medical program; it is a structural correction in public health governance. The Bhagwant Mann Government has transformed a high-cost, high-skill intervention into a universal public service. They have shown that advanced healthcare can be accessible. It can also be equitable. “Punjab has moved beyond merely announcing policies and is now executing them institutionally to ensure that silence does not limit any child’s future.”
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