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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Congress misleading public on National Herald case, matter still in court: BJP
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress of running misleading propaganda over the trial court's decision in the National Herald case and said the court refused to take cognisance of the complaint but did not set aside the case.
The case is still pending trial in the Delhi High Court, and the trial court in its order on Tuesday said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can continue its investigation, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia asserted.
"The court yesterday (Tuesday) said that since it is a private complaint and no FIR has been lodged, it will not take cognizance of it. It's a technical matter. The court also said that ED can continue its investigation further. The court did not set it aside," Bhatia told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here
"Its trial is still going on. Sonia Gandhi is still Accused Number-1 and Rahul Gandhi Accused Number-2," the BJP spokesperson said, alleging, "The Gandhi family thrives on deceit, deception, and propaganda."
