Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader announced plans for a government-run IVF centre at Lady Goschen Hospital, Mangaluru, at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, and a Rs 35-crore project to upgrade Moodbidri Community Health Centre into a fully fledged taluk hospital.
Speaking at a press conference at the Circuit House in Mangaluru, Khader said the IVF centre was aimed at making fertility treatment accessible and affordable, particularly for women from economically weaker sections.
He said the government had fixed a rate of Rs 60,000 under an existing scheme for IVF at private hospitals, but many hospitals had not joined, as actual private costs ranged from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Why a government IVF centre
Khader said: "Many women face humiliation and emotional suffering because they are unable to conceive. While financially well-off families can afford IVF treatment at private hospitals, others are unable to bear the expenses. Therefore, we have decided to establish IVF centres in government hospitals with the support of qualified specialists."
The gap between the scheme rate of Rs 60,000 and the actual private cost of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh is the problem the government centre is meant to solve. A government-run centre can offer treatment at a price that matches what families can actually pay.
Rollout in phases
A team of doctors has been formed to assess infrastructure, training and staffing, and the rollout will happen in phases with a pilot at selected hospitals. IVF facilities are also being considered at Bengaluru, Hubballi and Kalaburagi.
The phased approach means the Mangaluru centre will be among the first, with other cities following once the model is proven.
Moodbidri hospital upgrade
The Rs 35-crore project to upgrade Moodbidri Community Health Centre into a fully fledged taluk hospital will give the town a much stronger health facility.
Khader also flagged inadequate facilities at Bhatkal taluk hospital, a reminder that the upgrades are part of a wider push to strengthen government hospitals across the region.
