Listening to Progress: The Impact of Medical Reforms on Deaf Patients in China
More than 10 provinces in China have incorporated cochlear implants into their medical insurance coverage.
TroibNews 
At Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Chen Jian expressed his joy that his eight-month-old baby could finally experience the sounds of the world as a typical child would, following cochlear implant surgery.
His baby had been diagnosed with congenital bilateral profound deafness shortly after birth, and the substantial cost of the surgery would have posed a significant burden for the rural family.
Starting in September 2023, Jiangxi Province in eastern China added cochlear implants to its medical insurance reimbursement program, offering an average reimbursement rate of around 70 percent. For low-income families like Chen's, this rate can reach 90 percent.
Chen shared with China Media Group that the initial cost was 540,000 yuan, but he now only needed to pay 38,000 yuan.
Dr. Peng Xin from Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital mentioned to CMG that over 120 families with hearing-impaired children have benefited from this new policy at the facility.
Cochlear implantation allows completely deaf patients to regain some hearing ability, and with subsequent language training, they can achieve normal communication.
The first three years of life are critical for the development of the auditory cortex. Once hearing loss is identified in infants and young children, cochlear implants should be placed as soon as possible.
In China, approximately 27.8 million people have hearing disabilities. Despite this, only about 50,000 implants are performed each year due to the high costs associated with treatment.
In recent years, over ten provinces, including Jiangsu and Zhejiang, have progressively incorporated cochlear implants into their medical insurance reimbursement plans, with the highest payment standard reaching 450,000 yuan.
To further alleviate costs for patients, the National Healthcare Security Administration has pointed out that high-value medical consumables, including cochlear implants, will be integrated into the national centralized drug procurement program.
Since this program's launch in 2018, average price reductions for procured drugs have surpassed 50 percent.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
His baby had been diagnosed with congenital bilateral profound deafness shortly after birth, and the substantial cost of the surgery would have posed a significant burden for the rural family.
Starting in September 2023, Jiangxi Province in eastern China added cochlear implants to its medical insurance reimbursement program, offering an average reimbursement rate of around 70 percent. For low-income families like Chen's, this rate can reach 90 percent.
Chen shared with China Media Group that the initial cost was 540,000 yuan, but he now only needed to pay 38,000 yuan.
Dr. Peng Xin from Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital mentioned to CMG that over 120 families with hearing-impaired children have benefited from this new policy at the facility.
Cochlear implantation allows completely deaf patients to regain some hearing ability, and with subsequent language training, they can achieve normal communication.
The first three years of life are critical for the development of the auditory cortex. Once hearing loss is identified in infants and young children, cochlear implants should be placed as soon as possible.
In China, approximately 27.8 million people have hearing disabilities. Despite this, only about 50,000 implants are performed each year due to the high costs associated with treatment.
In recent years, over ten provinces, including Jiangsu and Zhejiang, have progressively incorporated cochlear implants into their medical insurance reimbursement plans, with the highest payment standard reaching 450,000 yuan.
To further alleviate costs for patients, the National Healthcare Security Administration has pointed out that high-value medical consumables, including cochlear implants, will be integrated into the national centralized drug procurement program.
Since this program's launch in 2018, average price reductions for procured drugs have surpassed 50 percent.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
