Poland will for the first time host one of the world’s most important events devoted to the treatment of hearing disorders. The 18th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies, CI2026, will be held in Warsaw and Kajetany.
The conference is regarded as the largest global event focused on cochlear implants and other implantable technologies used in hearing healthcare. It will bring together physicians, scientists, clinicians and experts from several dozen countries and all continents.
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CI2026 in Warsaw and Kajetany
The choice of Poland as the host country is a major distinction for the Polish hearing medicine community. The World Hearing Center in Kajetany had been seeking to organise the International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies for 12 years.
Part of the CI2026 programme will take place on 10 May 2026 at the World Hearing Center of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Kajetany, near Warsaw.
The President of CI2026 is Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, MD, PhD, dr h.c. multi, while the Secretary General is Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński, MD, PhD. The fact that Poland will host the event confirms the strong position of the Polish centre in the international hearing medicine community.
Prof. Henryk Skarżyński on the Importance of CI2026
According to Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, CI2026 will be more than a scientific meeting. Its aim is also to support the practical treatment of patients in different parts of the world.
“The 18th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies, CI2026, is both an exceptional meeting of scientists and clinicians and a conference whose outcomes should translate into clinical practice for patients in different parts of the world,” said Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, MD, PhD, dr h.c. multi, President of CI2026.
Prof. Skarżyński also emphasised that modern medical technologies should not be treated as an end in themselves. Their value depends on appropriate use, access and follow-up care.
“New technologies make sense when they are properly selected, accessible and supported by good rehabilitation,” said Prof. Henryk Skarżyński.
Hearing Loss as a Global Health Challenge
The relevance of CI2026 is closely linked to the growing scale of hearing disorders worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050 around 2.5 billion people, or one quarter of the global population, may have some degree of hearing loss. More than 700 million people will require treatment or rehabilitation.
These projections show why the development of implantable technologies, accurate patient qualification and effective rehabilitation are becoming increasingly important parts of healthcare systems. The issue concerns both highly developed countries and regions where access to specialist treatment remains limited.
New Technologies in Healthcare Practice
A major theme of CI2026 will be the practical implementation of new solutions in different healthcare systems. Participants will discuss how to match technologies to patients’ needs, the development of robotics, fully implantable hearing implants and the importance of rehabilitation after surgery.
The conference will gather specialists working in otosurgery, audiology, diagnostics, rehabilitation and the deployment of new technologies in the treatment of patients with hearing loss.
The World Hearing Center in Kajetany
The World Hearing Center in Kajetany is among the leading institutions of its kind worldwide. Each year, it carries out more than 15,000 surgical procedures and over 200,000 consultations and examinations.
So far, more than 20,000 active hearing implants of various types have been implanted there. These figures illustrate both the scale of the centre’s work and its importance for patients from Poland and abroad.
Poland’s Experience on the International Stage
CI2026 will provide an opportunity to present Polish achievements in hearing medicine while also enabling the exchange of knowledge with experts from around the world. The main question will be how to ensure that modern medical technologies are implemented effectively and made genuinely accessible to patients.
For Poland, hosting CI2026 is both a matter of prestige and responsibility. As hearing disorders affect an increasing number of people, hearing medicine is no longer a narrow specialist field. It is becoming one of the major challenges facing modern healthcare systems.
Polish News, Economy / Source: Agencja Informacyjna / Photo: Światowe Centrum Słuchu / 5.05.2026
