The hearing aid lab at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has a capacity to produce about 100 hearing aids per month but only makes about 15 since not many persons know of the facility.

The lab is operated on a cost-recovery basis, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. The hearing aid cost varies from $30,000 to $50,000 which is a fraction of the cost overseas.

Considering that this cost is sometimes difficult for some citizens, government is giving assistance to these persons through the Ministries of Health and Human Services and Social Security.

GINA quoted Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy as saying further that, “Early diagnosis can assist. Not many people know that the GPHC has a modern diagnosis lab for hearing test and know how to make use of these services. The Ministry of Health is also planning to establish a mobile lab with the intention of improving access for hearing loss diagnosis.”