Under the visionary guidance and constant support of Prof. (Dr.) Ratan Gupta, Executive Director, AIIMS Bathinda, the institute continues to achieve new milestones in advanced patient care and specialized surgical services. Addressing the media, Prof. Gupta highlighted that AIIMS Bathinda has successfully performed 10 cochlear implant surgeries during the last two months, marking a significant milestone in expanding advanced hearing restoration services in the region.
Most of these surgeries were performed free of cost under Punjab Government health initiatives, enabling eligible children to receive this life-changing treatment without financial burden. Prof. (Dr.) Rajiv Kumar, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS Bathinda, highlighted the institute’s continued progress in advanced healthcare and stated that, in addition to the successful cochlear implant programme, AIIMS Bathinda has also completed 100 corneal transplants and 10 renal transplants, reflecting the institute’s growing expertise in providing advanced tertiary care services.
The cochlear implant programme at AIIMS Bathinda has been developed under the mentorship of Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar, Ex- Professor & Principal Consultant, Department of ENT, ABVIMS & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. Under his guidance, the Department of ENT has successfully established a comprehensive cochlear implant programme.
The Department of ENT, led by Prof. (Dr.) Vaibhav Saini, Head, Department of ENT, along with Dr. Vikasdeep Gupta, Associate Professor, Dr. Nikhil Rajan, Associate Professor, and Dr. Ankur Mohan, Assistant Professor, has played a key role in strengthening cochlear implant services at AIIMS Bathinda.
The department provides comprehensive cochlear implant care under one roof, including patient evaluation, surgery, device programming, auditory rehabilitation, speech therapy and long-term follow-up through a dedicated multidisciplinary team. Cochlear implantation is an effective treatment for children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss who receive limited benefit from hearing aids.
Early diagnosis and timely cochlear implantation, especially in children, are essential for the normal development of speech, language, learning and communication. The availability of these services at AIIMS Bathinda has made advanced hearing care more accessible for patients from Punjab and neighbouring states, allowing them to receive timely treatment and rehabilitation closer to their homes.
In another significant achievement, AIIMS Bathinda has become the first AIIMS in India to successfully perform bilateral cochlear implantation using the latest generation of smart cochlear implant technology. This milestone reflects the institute’s commitment to bringing the latest advances in hearing care to patients while providing high-quality treatment through the public healthcare system.
AIIMS Bathinda remains committed to expanding advanced hearing restoration services and ensuring that children and adults with severe hearing loss receive timely treatment, comprehensive rehabilitation and improved quality of life through accessible, high-quality healthcare.