Keralam Sruthitharangam Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme is a State Government healthcare initiative that provides financial and treatment support for eligible children with profound hearing loss. The scheme covers cochlear implant surgery, post-surgical auditory verbal habilitation, mapping and programming through selected empanelled hospitals. The Kerala Social Security Mission first launched Sruthitharangam in 2012 under the Social Justice Department. From 2023-24, the State Health Agency (SHA), Kerala took over its implementation under the Health and Family Welfare Department as part of the State's publicly funded healthcare programmes.

Under the scheme, eligible children can receive a cashless cochlear implantation package of up to ₹5.20 lakh. The package includes the implant, surgical procedure, mapping and programming, and auditory verbal habilitation. The 2023 guidelines specify support for unilateral cochlear implantation. The rehabilitation component is intended to help children improve their hearing, speech and language skills after surgery.

The scheme primarily covers children in the prescribed age group who meet the required medical, audiological and radiological criteria. Children below 3 years can generally be considered if they meet the prescribed conditions, while children aged 3 to 5 years require special approval from the State Level Technical Committee (SLTC). The SLTC may also consider certain cases above 5 years, including eligible cases of post-meningitis hearing loss. The parents should be Keralites and should not be Government servants or income-tax payees.

Before applying, the child must complete the required pre-implant evaluation, including ENT, audiological and radiological assessments. Parents or guardians can initiate the application through an empanelled Sruthitharangam hospital. The hospital verifies the documents and sends the application to the SLTC for technical review and approval. Once approved, the treatment is provided on a cashless basis through the empanelled hospital.

In addition to cochlear implantation and rehabilitation, the later Sruthitharangam scheme note provides for annual maintenance assistance of up to ₹50,000 for eligible beneficiaries for cochlear implant spares and accessories, subject to the applicable conditions. It also mentions processor upgrade support up to 25 years of age. These provisions should be understood separately from the ₹5.20 lakh implantation package specified in the 2023 implementation guidelines.

Scheme Benefits

• Eligible children can get free cochlear implant surgery at empanelled hospitals.
• The scheme provides a treatment package of up to ₹5.20 lakh for cochlear implantation.
• The package covers the implant, surgery, mapping and programming of the device.
• Children receive auditory verbal habilitation to support hearing, speech and language development after surgery.
• The rehabilitation package covers up to 140 sessions, as per the scheme guidelines.
• The scheme provides post-surgery follow-up support for two years.
• Eligible beneficiaries can get maintenance assistance of up to ₹50,000 per financial year for cochlear implant spares and accessories, subject to the applicable conditions.
• Eligible beneficiaries can receive processor upgrade support up to 25 years of age, subject to the scheme conditions.
• Treatment is provided on a cashless basis through selected empanelled hospitals.

Age Limit for Different Benefits

Note: The age criteria for cochlear implantation are based on the 2023 implementation guidelines. The provisions for processor upgrades, maintenance support and consideration of post-lingual hearing loss are mentioned in the later Sruthitharangam scheme note and remain subject to the applicable conditions and Technical Committee recommendations.

Eligibility Requirements

• Available to children aged 0 to 5 years with profound hearing loss.
• Special Technical Committee approval required for children aged 3 to 5 years.
• Post-lingual hearing loss and post-meningitis injury cases considered up to 12 years, subject to Technical Committee approval.
• Parents must be permanent residents of Kerala.
• Parents must not be government employees or income tax payees.
• Child must have bilateral severe to profound hearing loss, confirmed through audiological tests.
• Cochlea must show normal dimensions, with a cochlear nerve at least 1mm thick.
• Child must not have major brain abnormalities affecting normal functioning.
• Child must have completed all government-approved vaccinations, including Pneumococcal and H. Influenza.
• Middle ear disease, if present, must be fully treated before surgery.
• Parents must commit to at least 2 years of post-surgery therapy and sign the scheme's consent terms.
• Speech processor upgrade and annual maintenance support available up to age 25.

Required Documents

• Duly filled application form, signed by the parent or guardian.
• Self-declaration confirming the family is not government employees or income tax payees.
• Ration card in the name of the child or parent.
• Birth certificate, for children below 2 years not listed on the ration card.
• Aadhaar card of the child and parent.
• Mobile number linked with Aadhaar, for OTP verification.
• Certificate from the Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologist recommending cochlear implantation.
• Certificate from the ENT Surgeon recommending cochlear implantation.
• Joint checklist of audiological and radiological test reports, signed by the Audiologist and ENT Surgeon.
• Affidavit on Rs. 250 stamp paper, signed by both parents, after Technical Committee approval.

Steps to Apply

Applicants can apply for this scheme only offline, through a hospital empanelled under the Sruthitharangam scheme.

1. Visit any hospital empanelled under the Sruthitharangam scheme.
2. Get the child's hearing loss evaluated through audiological and radiological tests.
3. Collect the recommendation certificate from the treating ENT Surgeon.
4. Collect the recommendation certificate from the Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologist.
5. Fill in the application form with the child's and family's details.
6. Attach the self-declaration, Aadhaar, and ration card along with the form.
7. Submit all documents at the hospital for verification.
8. Let the hospital forward your application to the State Level Technical Committee for approval.
9. Sign the affidavit on Rs. 250 stamp paper once the committee approves your application.
10. Begin the cochlear implant surgery and therapy at the hospital, on a cashless basis.

Empanelled Hospitals

Sruthitharangam services are provided through selected empanelled public and private hospitals in Kerala. The State Health Agency publishes the list of hospitals providing scheme benefits on its official website.

Applicants should check the latest hospital list before visiting a facility, as empanelment may change over time.

• Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
• Government Medical College, Kottayam
• Government Medical College, Kozhikode
• National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), Thiruvananthapuram
• Dr Noushad's ENT Hospital, Ernakulam
• Dr Manoj's ENT Hospital, Kozhikode
• Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam
• Ascent Hospital, Malappuram
• KIMS Health, Thiruvananthapuram
• Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode
• Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences, Ernakulam

Relevant Links

• Kerala Sruthitharangam Scheme Guidelines.
• Kerala Department of Health and Family Welfare Portal.
• Kerala State Health Agency Portal.

Contact Information

• Kerala SHA (DISHA) Toll-Free Number: 1056
• Kerala SHA Phone Number
  • 0471-2960221
  • 0471-4063121
• Kerala SHA Email Helpdesk: [email protected]