As personal fertility clinics providing varied assisted reproductive methods (ART) proliferate throughout Madurai and throughout Tamil Nadu, an enormous query lies as to why such companies usually are not current at Authorities Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and different main authorities medical school hospitals in districts outdoors Chennai. Though there isn’t any finish to the variety of {couples} in search of infertility therapy, hospitals haven’t launched infertility therapy amenities, leaving financially weak sufferers with restricted choices.
Madurai has emerged as an vital medical hub in southern Tamil Nadu, drawing sufferers from close by districts for specialised therapy. Nevertheless, lately, infertility therapy has remained within the personal sector, and the excessive price of therapy has put it out of attain for a lot of households.
Well being activist Veronica Mary says the dearth of infertility therapy at Madurai GRH, which primarily serves rural and low-income individuals, highlights vital disparities within the provision of reproductive well being care.
Non-public Fertility Hospital |Picture Credit score: R. Rajesh
When requested concerning the enhance in infertility remedies supplied by personal hospitals in city areas, particularly within the southern areas, she mentioned steady promoting throughout a number of platforms is drawing susceptible {couples} to such clinics. He additionally identified that some personal fertility facilities don’t seem to have totally complied with the provisions of the Medical Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010, which mandates transparency in charges, resembling displaying authorized payment ranges and adhering to prescribed payment buildings.
He additionally identified that even when a fertility therapy facility have been to be established on the GRH, availability of skilled personnel can be a key ingredient for the service to operate successfully and be accessible to all segments of the inhabitants.
She added that, like personal fertility centres, any fertility facility at GRH requires a devoted staff of medical doctors and skilled employees to observe sufferers 24 hours a day. He mentioned ongoing medical supervision is important for such remedies, which require a number of steps and shut statement, and is vital to making sure efficient outcomes.
On this regard, a public curiosity litigation (PIL) has been filed in search of introduction of infertility therapy companies at Madurai Authorities Rajaji Hospital and Egmore Authorities Hospital in 2023. The power was subsequently arrange at Egmore GH and is reportedly receiving optimistic response from sufferers, however related companies are but to be launched at Madurai GRH.
Roughly three years have handed since Ma’s appointment as Minister of Well being. Mr. Subramanian introduced that steps have been initiated to arrange fertility clinics at Authorities Rajaji Hospital and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chennai at an estimated price of Rs 2,500 crore every. Whereas the Chennai middle has since began operations, the proposed facility at Madurai GRH is but to open.
Explaining the classification of infertility remedies, a health care provider at a personal hospital mentioned that infertility remedies are broadly categorised into ART I and ART II relying on the extent of intervention. ART I consists of primary steps. “These procedures are comparatively easy, final a couple of month, and the outcomes are evaluated in subsequent menstrual cycles,” the physician mentioned. Extra advanced and test-intensive procedures are categorised as ART II and are thought of when preliminary interventions fail to yield outcomes.
The physician elaborated on ART II surgical procedure and mentioned that this class contains superior remedies and methods. “For this process, the therapy cycle is often one to 3 months, after which the outcomes might be evaluated,” the physician defined.
success charge
Relating to success charges, medical doctors warned that infertility remedies don’t assure outcomes. “None of those surgical procedures can assure a 100% success charge,” the physician mentioned, including that ART I surgical procedures usually report success charges within the 20-30% vary, whereas ART II surgical procedures have comparatively excessive outcomes relying on particular person medical components.
On the subject of therapy failures, medical doctors mentioned they evaluation outcomes to find out the explanations for the dearth of success. “We’ll analyze the place the process might not have labored as anticipated and, if mandatory, make applicable modifications and plan subsequent cycles,” the physician defined.
As for which therapy supplies higher outcomes, the outcomes differ extensively relying on particular person well being components, medical doctors mentioned. “The selection of therapy will depend on the medical profile of the affected person. Some individuals change into pregnant with ART I surgical procedure, whereas others require superior remedies resembling in vitro fertilization,” the physician defined.
Steady monitoring of those time-consuming procedures requires manpower, and with out satisfactory personnel, Veronica Mary says, merely opening a fertility middle in a authorities hospital won’t yield the specified outcomes.
L. Arul Sundaresh Kumar, director of Authorities Rajaji Hospital (GRH), mentioned for the reason that introduction of stage 1 infertility therapy in 2023, the hospital has handled a complete of 4,000 outpatients. Of those, 553 sufferers underwent detailed examination and session for superior therapy.
“Of the 553 individuals consulted, 26 sufferers have already obtained the therapy prescribed below the Degree 1 protocol. In consequence, 10 births have been profitable and 15 ladies are presently in varied phases of being pregnant,” he added.
The dean mentioned the IVF course of is commonly lengthy and tedious, so GRH strives to satisfy the wants of the general public throughout the southern area, bearing in mind the present availability of consultants and gear.
At present, preliminary procedures resembling intrauterine insemination (semen injection) and different drug remedies can be found at GRH. Nevertheless, sufferers are nonetheless referred to the federal government IVF facility in Chennai for specialised testing procedures.
Steps are actually being taken to shut this hole. Preparations to start Degree 2 therapy are virtually full. “The gear will likely be procured via funding from the Tamil Nadu Medical Providers Company (TNMSC). This will likely be adopted by recruitment of specialist technicians and completion of different vital groundworks,” the dean mentioned.
As soon as the inspection of officers from Chennai is accomplished, mandatory formalities will likely be initiated to start your complete IVF preparation, he mentioned.
issued – February 8, 2026 7:58 PM IST
