Misuse of Cochlear Implants - The Inside Story

Of late there seems to be more controversy and misuse of Cochlear Implants than its benefits - Well known and extremely skilled surgeons across the country are being denied the Implant by the companies - Reason - Monopoly and Kickbacks. One implant company was already penalized in the US for the same reason.

It is a Paradox that an association was formed (CIGI)

claiming to spread the knowledge of Cochlear Implantation and prevent its misuse, but it is members of  the same group who have formed a very close secret group who are arm twisting the companies and making them deny implants and thereby creating a Monopoly indirectly increasing the cost and in turn higher Benefits (read Kickbacks). It also seems to be the only association where member list is not available even to its members!!! Why this secrecy is a reason well known to the ENT community - since even members of the group have been denied implants. It was then members of the association started exposing this corruption and uncovering the Real reasons for implant denial and exposed the same to the ENT community. Though the reasons for denial of implants is claimed to be logistics - ground reality going by the postings in Facebook seem to be throwing a different light altogether. This is like 2G scam of Medicine.

 
Govt pays an amount of Rs.5 Lakh per implant. But our Elite CI surgeons ask the children to go in for Rs.10 lakh implant (stating that this will help them to hear better), the poor have to raise the money by selling their land and also requesting Philanthropy.  Imagine how much one has to toil to get this amount. Now with the Economy not looking bright this seems to be the only viable business.  How many lives can be saved if this was used for life saving procedures.

Few Surgeons have received Lakhs as "ADVANCE" (Read Kickbacks) not taking into account the fully paid foreign trips with family (shameful) and some have also received money for clinics/hospitals/luxury cars etc.,  Only a handful whom I know personally pass the benefits to the patient, others including some very well known names enjoy this and prevent others in their state from undertaking the procedure to increase their profits. If this was not enough their source of referral are also very well taken care of by way of lodging in 5 star hotels with drinks and What Not.

Some have even taken dealership of the implants and thereby their profits increase much more. Also some surgeons depend on this Kickback money alone shamefully for their survival. 

 

How many of you toil day and night, work under pressure and have to neglect family to earn a decent living and make ends meet? and here we have "Elite Surgeons" who make huge amounts of money as "Benefits" for just 3 hours and also create an impression that it is the Panacea for deafness and Implant Children who will not benefit from the implant.
Even the rehabilitation is done in secrecy and in some places by their family members - Whether they are properly trained is a big question mark. This avoids the misdeeds to be exposed.

 
This also goes against the dreams and wishes of our former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who wanted an Implant to be manufactured in India for less than 1 lakh, probably he had foreseen the misuse and Kickbacks involved. But then the hold of CI surgeons is so strong that this may not happen in near future and his dream will most likely remain as a dream only.

Worst part most of these unethical surgeons have formed NGO's where the kickbacks are pumped in!!!

It is sad that at one place we have Anna fighting for accountability and at the other end there is secrecy and misuse of these devices for personal Benefits by few Greedy, unethical  specialists.
Join hands so that this marvelous device is not misused for personal gains.

Posted via email from drkumaresh's posterous