Six patients get cochlear implants at PIMS

Procedures was conducted by Dr Noweed Ahmed from James Cook University Hospital, a UK-based doctor

RAWALPINDI:

In a collaborative effort between the Children's Hospital at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the International Medical Relief Agency (IMRA), six deserving patients underwent cochlear implant surgeries.

The procedures were conducted by Dr Noweed Ahmed from James Cook University Hospital, a UK-based doctor, as part of a programme initiated in October 2022.

Costing approximately Rs3.5 million per surgery, these procedures mark a significant step towards introducing such interventions in public-sector hospitals, aiming to reduce overall surgery costs. Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Executive Director of PIMS, expressed satisfaction that the hospital is evolving into a hub for cochlear implants.

Dr Sikandar emphasised the need to institutionalise the programme, seeking government support to ensure accessibility for deserving children despite funding challenges.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2023.