Oman’s Khoula Hospital launches advanced same-day cochlear implant surgeries to expand hearing care

OMAN—The Ministry of Health, Oman, has marked a significant step in specialised hearing care after the Day Care Unit at Khoula Hospital began performing cochlear implant surgeries in accordance with internationally recognised medical protocols.

The move strengthens Oman’s efforts to localise advanced surgical procedures and reflects the hospital’s wider push to expand high-precision interventions that allow patients to return home on the same day.

Recent investments in the hospital’s day-care infrastructure have also boosted its ability to deliver a broader range of specialised surgeries while reducing waiting times for patients across the Sultanate.

Cochlear implantation is a sophisticated surgical procedure designed for people with severe to profound hearing loss who receive limited benefit from conventional hearing aids.

During the procedure, surgeons implant a small electronic device that bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing sound signals to reach the brain.

This technology can significantly improve hearing and speech development, particularly when performed early in children with profound bilateral hearing impairment.

First successful paediatric procedure

According to Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rahbi, Senior Consultant in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, the ear surgery team from Al Nahdha Hospital has been carrying out a series of specialised procedures at Khoula Hospital’s day-care surgical unit over the past several months as part of an ongoing service integration programme.

During that period, the team completed around 70 ear surgeries, including tympanoplasty, stapes replacement procedures and ossicular chain reconstruction surgeries.

These interventions address a wide range of middle-ear conditions that can impair hearing and quality of life.

The newly launched cochlear implant service has already recorded its first successful case involving a child diagnosed with severe hearing loss in both ears. Surgeons completed the operation in approximately 90 minutes.

During the procedure, the medical team conducted immediate device testing and post-operative imaging to confirm the implant’s precise positioning before transferring the patient to recovery for same-day discharge.

Part of wider hospital modernisation

The service launch aligns with Khoula Hospital’s broader healthcare transformation agenda.

The hospital recently reported record surgical activity, with more than 8,000 operations completed through its day-care facilities in 2025 alone, representing a sharp increase from previous years.

This expansion follows continued investment in equipment, specialised training and infrastructure development aimed at establishing Khoula as a regional referral centre for advanced surgery.

Patients receiving cochlear implants will also benefit from structured post-operative auditory rehabilitation and long-term follow-up programmes, ensuring that surgical success translates into improved hearing outcomes and stronger speech and communication development.

The addition of this service further reinforces Oman’s strategy to deliver complex, technology-driven care locally while reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for highly specialised treatment.