Cochlear Implants in Third World Countries

Dr. Muazz Tarabichi, an American Board Certified Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at the American Hospital Dubai spoke at a Deafness Week Seminar organised jointly by the College of Information Technology, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and the American Hospital in Dubai.

While describing Cochlear Implantation (CI) as 'one of the most successful, life transforming, and expensive intervention in medicine today,' Dr Tarabichi said the different CI manufacturers are unable to cater to the needs of Third World countries.

'A CI device consisting of an internal and external apparatus costs approximately US$30,000 to $40,000. A software engineer in India, for example, who could in all likelihood be involved in programming such a device, would have to dedicate his entire income for six years just for the cost of the device, while a teacher would have to dedicate his earnings for 24 years.'