Amit Shah Inaugurates India’s First Tele-Rehabilitation Center in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad : In a groundbreaking step towards improving healthcare accessibility, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the country’s first tele-rehabilitation center at Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday. This state-of-the-art facility, a first in India, will revolutionize rehabilitation services for children with cochlear implants, providing remote therapy sessions. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Health Minister Rishikesh Patel were also present at the event.

Gujarat became the first state in India to introduce a tele-rehabilitation center within a government institution, offering hope for children with hearing and speech impairments. During the event, Amit Shah also launched the modernization of the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology College at Sola Civil Hospital, further advancing healthcare services in the state.

Addressing the audience, Shah praised Gujarat’s innovative healthcare advancements and personally toured the new tele-rehabilitation center. He interacted with children who had undergone cochlear implant surgery, offering his best wishes for their future. Shah emphasized the critical role of speech therapy in rehabilitation after cochlear implants, noting how this new center would help overcome challenges previously faced by families living far from Ahmedabad.

Before the tele-rehabilitation center was established, children requiring post-surgery therapy had to travel long distances to Sola Civil Hospital. The cost of travel, coupled with the lack of accessible auditory verbal therapy, often hindered these children’s development in listening and speaking skills. In some cases, this even led to unsuccessful cochlear implant outcomes.

With a budget of ₹25 lakh, funded through Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Project Implementation Unit (PIU), District Early Intervention Center (DEIC), and Audiology College, the tele-rehabilitation system will now allow children to receive therapy in their home districts. Using video call technology, patients will connect with specialists in advanced soundproof rooms, receiving treatment from audiologists, pediatricians, and RBSK professionals. This tele-therapy initiative marks a significant improvement, offering comprehensive care compared to the previously available audio-only services.

Additionally, Shah launched the modernization of the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology College. The government has allocated ₹35 lakh to upgrade its facilities, including the construction of seven international-standard soundproof rooms. These rooms will provide specialized treatment for patients with hearing, speech, vertigo, and swallowing problems, particularly for those recovering from strokes.

One of the notable technologies introduced at the college is Vestibulonystagmography (VNG), which helps identify the cause of dizziness—whether from an ear condition or a brain issue. For patients facing difficulty swallowing due to stroke, throat cancer, or neurological disorders, a modern tool called vital stimulation has been implemented to stimulate throat muscles and aid in recovery.

On the same occasion, a book titled A Comprehensive Guide to Hearing, Speech, and Language Development in Children with Cochlear Implants was released. The book provides detailed guidance for specialists and parents on developing listening and speaking skills in children post-cochlear implant surgery. It contains three modules focused on structured activities to aid children’s hearing and language development.

The Audiology and Speech Language Pathology College at Sola Civil Hospital, started in 2021, was approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India and is affiliated with Gujarat University. The Bachelor’s course offered at the college is of four years’ duration, with a year dedicated to internships, and has 20 seats. It is one of the first government institutions in Gujarat to offer this course, joining four other states in running such programs.