Chandigarh, Punjab – In a landmark move aimed at revolutionizing public healthcare, the Government of Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched the Punjab Free Cochlear Implant Scheme, providing high-end cochlear implant surgeries completely free of cost to children across the state. This initiative, part of the Mukhya Mantri Sarvan Ashirwad Yojana, also called “Sunan Da Haq Sabda,” removes financial barriers and ensures every child has access to advanced hearing restoration treatment.
The scheme is operational across four major government medical colleges in Punjab: Government Medical College & Hospital, Amritsar; Government Medical College & Hospital, Patiala; Government Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot; and Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, SAS Nagar. This network ensures that access to life-changing cochlear implant surgeries is no longer restricted by geography.
Breaking the Financial Barrier
Cochlear implant surgeries, which typically cost between ₹6,00,000 and ₹10,00,000 per ear in the private sector, are now fully funded by the state. The Punjab Free Cochlear Implant Scheme covers the implant device, surgery, hospitalization, and post-operative rehabilitation. Families can now access these critical medical services without worrying about financial hardship, securing their child’s ability to hear and speak.
Addressing a Silent Public Health Crisis
Hearing impairment affects approximately 6.3% of the Indian population, with nearly 5 in every 1,000 newborns born with profound hearing loss. Many children with undiagnosed hearing difficulties are misidentified as slow learners, facing social stigma and educational disadvantages. By institutionalizing free cochlear implant services, Punjab is addressing this silent crisis head-on, ensuring children receive timely intervention.
Also read : Punjab Women Entrepreneurs to Be Honoured: 14,100 SHG Members Recognised Under PSRLM
The Golden Window for Early Intervention
Medical research underscores the importance of early cochlear implantation. Children between 0 to 3 years of age benefit the most, as this is the prime period for language development. Surgeries performed between ages 3 to 5 still offer substantial benefits, while interventions after this stage are significantly less effective. The Punjab Free Cochlear Implant Scheme guarantees that financial constraints do not prevent children from accessing surgery during this critical developmental window.
ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਸ਼ਦ ਅਤੇ ਬਲਾਕ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਹੁੰ ਚੁੱਕ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੈਬਿਨੇਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ @AAPbalbir ਦੀ ਨਵੇਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਸਲਾਹ !!
ਕਿਹਾ, ‘’ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਸ਼ਦ ਤੇ ਬਲਾਕ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿੰਡਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਦਾ ਪਲਾਨ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਓ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਭੇਦਭਾਵ ਤੋਂ ਫ਼ੰਡ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਤੁਸੀ… pic.twitter.com/BBJd9egu6I
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) February 27, 2026
Leading the Way After National Scheme Closure
Following the closure of the Government of India’s cochlear implant scheme in November 2023, many children lost access to this essential intervention. The Bhagwant Mann Government responded decisively by launching the Punjab Free Cochlear Implant Scheme, ensuring state-funded cochlear implant surgeries for all eligible resident children. The state covers every aspect of treatment while enhancing government medical colleges to provide advanced, specialized care.
A Vision for Inclusive Healthcare
Health Minister Balbir Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to inclusive healthcare. “With this scheme, the Bhagwant Mann Government ensures that advanced medical care reaches every child, irrespective of financial background. No child in Punjab will be deprived of hearing due to economic constraints,” he said.
Cochlear implant surgeries under the scheme are now operational at all four government medical colleges, marking a transformative step toward equitable, specialized, and compassionate healthcare. By institutionalizing this high-cost intervention as a public service, Punjab demonstrates that advanced medical care can be both accessible and equitable.
The Punjab Free Cochlear Implant Scheme is not only a healthcare program but a structural reform in public health governance, ensuring that no child’s future is limited by silence and that advanced medical services are available to every eligible child in the state.