The Government has announced the adult cochlear implant programme is to get an extra $6.5m for the 2017-2018 year.
The announcement of an extra $6.5m for the adult cochlear implant programme came just over a week after an online petition by 22-year-old Danielle Mackay, signed by 26,643 people, was presented to Parliament by the country’s first deaf MP Mojo Mathers. The petition called for the Government to increase funding so Mackay could receive cochlear implant surgery before she lost her hearing.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said that in 2013 the number of funded cochlear implants for adults increased from 20 to 40 a year and the latest announcement meant that 100 implants could be funded this financial year. The money is to come from “reprioritisation” within Vote Health.
