Mysuru: Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) will soon start an IVF Centre at Cheluvamba Hospital, offering new hope to childless couples at an affordable price.This will be the first govt IVF centre in south Karnataka and is likely to benefit couples in the region. According to medical education officers, an average of four to five couples visit the outpatient department of Cheluvamba Hospital seeking infertility treatment. Cheluvamba Hospital, which is attached to MMCRI, is one of the biggest children’s hospitals in the state. Thanuja Mahesh, governing council member of MMCRI, said that the proposed IVF centre at Cheluvamba Hospital is intended to make advanced fertility care accessible within a public healthcare setting. By providing services through a govt institution, the centre is expected to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients and ensure that treatment is available to those who need it most, not only to those who can afford it. The move is also aimed at improving equity in reproductive healthcare by bringing specialised services closer to vulnerable communities, she stated. MMCRI dean and director Dr KR Dakshayini said that, with rising stress, strain, and busy lifestyles, the number of childless couples seeking medical support is increasing in the region. At Cheluvamba Hospital, an average of four to five couples visit the OPD in a month seeking infertility-related consultation and treatment. Establishing a govt IVF centre will help to ensure that poor and economically vulnerable patients can access quality infertility services through govt hospitals at a much lower cost. The estimated cost for setting up the facility is approximately Rs 2.5 crore. Currently, a govt-run IVF centre is in Hubballi, and this is expected to be the first of its kind in south Karnataka within a govt setup, improving access to advanced infertility care for the region. Civil works are complete, and the process of floating a tender to procure equipment is underway. Infertility treatment in private establishments is expensive, with IVF packages commonly costing around Rs 6 lakh and above. In contrast, the same services in a govt setup are expected to be available at about Rs 1 lakh, making treatment more affordable. The major component of patient expenditure is typically drugs and medications, which may be approximately Rs 1 lakh depending on the protocol and clinical needs. Thanuja said the initiative comes in response to the absence of govt-run IVF centres, a gap that pushed many families to depend on private hospitals for fertility treatment. For economically weaker couples, the high cost of consultations, investigations, medicines, and procedures in the private sector often makes IVF unattainable, leaving them with limited options and prolonged emotional distress. Govt IVF is expected to come to the rescue of such couples, she said.
