Karnataka government to set up IVF clinics amid growing demand for fertility treatments
Bengaluru: Amid a concerning rise in infertility rates and an increasing demand for medically assisted reproductive services, the Karnataka government has reportedly begun efforts to establish government-run in-vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics across the state.
In the 2023-2024 budget, an allocation of Rs 6 crore was announced to set up four IVF clinics. The Bengaluru unit will be located at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Institute (ABVMCRI), formerly known as Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, as reported by Deccan Herald.
The other clinics will be situated at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi (under a CSR initiative), Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, and the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi.
“We are calling for tenders and the unit should be set up in the next six months. Gynaecologists, urologists and other specialists will be provided by our college and hospital,” DH quoted Dr Manoj Kumar H.V., director and dean of ABVMCRI, as saying.
Infertility rate has gone up by at least 20 percent to 30 percent in the last five years. Male infertility has also seen a significant rise, added the report.
Dr Sharanprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, explained that they are establishing these clinic due to high demand. “This initiative does not come under Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK), so we cannot set up units everywhere. We are yet to decide on the rates to be charged for the procedure,” DH quoted Patil as saying.
Meanwhile, it is expected that the rates will be significantly cheaper than private clinics. Currently, the cost for a single IVF cycle at private establishments ranges from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh, with no coverage from health insurance companies.
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Governor’s speech row: CM Siddaramaiah cites “Vartha Bharathi” editorial in assembly
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday cited an editorial published in the Kannada daily Vartha Bharathi during the Assembly session. The Chief Minister was responding to a debate in the assembly held over the Governor's address to the joint session of both Houses of the State Legislature.
On January 22, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot declined to read the customary address prepared by the government and made a two-line address before walking out on the first day of the State legislature session, triggering a major political row.
After the House reconvened following the lunch break, Speaker U.T. Khader gave CM Siddaramaiah the opportunity to respond to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. In his reply, the Chief Minister said the Governor left in haste without reading the full speech prepared by the government. He also pointed out that the Governor did not include the phrase “Jai Samvidhana” (Hail Constitution) and did not wait until the completion of the national anthem, stating that such conduct was inappropriate.
Referring to editorials published in various state dailies, the Chief Minister specifically cited Vartha Bharathi’s editorial dated January 23.
He said Governor Gehlot’s conduct during the January 22 session was not in keeping with the dignity of the constitutional office. Qouting the editorial the CM said, “the Governor appeared to act as though decisions and resolutions of the elected government required approval from him or the Central government, undermining the federal structure. Such actions violated the spirit of the Constitution and further fueled the already existing conflict between the Centre and the state."
Is Vartha Bharathi part of the government's cabinet? : V. Sunil Kumar
In the meantime, BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar intervened the CM and questioned whether Vartha Bharathi was part of the government’s Cabinet.
Siddaramaiah responded saying, “no representatives of the newspaper were associated with the Congress party.”
Supporting the CM's statement and taking a jab at the BJP MLA, Minister Byrathi Suresh added, “None of Vartha Bharati’s representatives are there in our Cabinet. The editor of another newspaper was a member of your (BJP) party.”
