Dozens to get gift of hearing for Ramadan under joint initiative
▶ Abu Dhabi University teams up with Swiss technology company in effort to make cochlear implants affordable
Abu Dhabi University has launched a campaign to make cochlear implants cheaper for those with hearing loss in the UAE.
Announced last month, the UAE Hears the World Initiative is to be carried out in partnership with Swiss company Neubio, which produces electronic-free earpieces.
Under the initiative, 50 implants will be donated to groups across the UAE and around the world to support people in need before Ramadan this month.
Cochlear implants cost between $27,000 and $68,000 in the UAE, including the price of the device and surgery to insert it. The device alone can cost between $20,000 and $30,000.
But under the new joint initiative, where the implants will be produced domestically, they are expected to cost between $10,000 and $12,000.
Dr Montasir Qasymeh, associate provost for research, innovation and academic development at Abu Dhabi University, said partners were still being sought to help with mass production of the devices.
“These are made-in-UAE cochlear implants, based on Swiss technology or European technology, which is new. So this is going to be made available. We are now in the process of communicating with authorities,” he told The National.
“It’s a new trend that we are starting. The university is hosting a high-tech company and collaborating with governmental entities to bring in new technology.
“Having a high-tech company in a university collaborating with a hospital and supported by the Ministry of Economy has never happened before.”
Neubio’s affordable hearing aids are electronic-free, which reduces the risks associated with electronic failure and the need for revision surgery. They are also designed to be compact, offering surgeons greater flexibility during procedures and reducing surgery time under anaesthesia, with less drilling.
The implants use a digital-to-analogue electric simulation, which provides users with a full-spectrum hearing experience that closely mimics natural hearing.
Dr Qasymeh said the implants would first be made available to Emiratis and later to residents.
He said the plan is to ensure that the cochlear implants are eventually included in medical insurance plans.
About 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, while at least 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation, the World Health Organisation says.
More than 5 per cent of the world’s population – or 430 million people – require rehabilitation to address hearing loss. Among them are 34 million children.
It is estimated that by 2050 more than 700 million people will have disabling hearing loss.
The WHO says annual additional investment of less than $1.40 a person is needed to scale up ear and hearing care services globally.
Over a 10-year period, this promises a return of almost $16 for every dollar invested.
Joshua Chang, director of global impact at Neubio, said the company hopes its devices can reach underserved communities.
Through the initiative, Neubio aims to make hearing solutions accessible to people regardless of their economic status and is committed to providing the implants at a significantly reduced cost.
“The initiative promotes both medical device innovation and humanitarian efforts,” said Mr Chang.
The aim, he added, is to break free from the constraints of high-cost devices and enable production of advanced technology within local communities, serving those who could not previously afford or have access to these implants.
“We aim to enhance the accessibility of cochlear implants by offering them at a price range of $10,000 to $12,000.
“The realisation of this goal depends on the terms of our partnerships, the support to expand the patient base and our capacity to manufacture locally here in the UAE.”
Mr Chang said the cost of cochlear implants in the UAE can vary based on factors such as the type of implant, the hospital or clinic carrying out the surgery and other services included in the treatment package.
“Beyond offering a more affordable cochlear implant solution, we’re showcasing the UAE’s capability to contribute to global healthcare solutions by locally producing an assistive device in high demand worldwide,” he said.
By manufacturing in the UAE, Neubio can cater to Gulf and Mena countries without the need to import devices, enabling it to help people who now face difficulty accessing inexpensive implants.
The implants have already been approved by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi, Mr Chang added, and a pilot programme is now being planned.
Neubio is in the process of teaming up with government agencies, healthcare and corporate social responsibility partners in the UAE.