State government is set to make its foray into assisted reproduction by starting a dedicated male infertility centre at Gandhi Hospital later this week.
Doctors at the State-run hospital say demand for assisted reproduction is high compelling the government to start the service. So far they only provided limited services to help low-income couples combat infertility.
“We perform many procedures to improve reproductive health and also provide limited non-surgical services to combat female infertility. Now we are going to start providing intrauterine insemination,” Head of the Gynaecology Department at Gandhi Hospital H. Anupama said.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is aimed at addressing fertility problems arising out of low sperm count or poor sperm motility. In IUI, semen is injected into the uterus at a predetermined time to increased odds of fertilization. Dr. Anupama added that the facility at Gandhi Hospital will start by catering to around 25 patients.
“We have obtained necessary equipment to start the facility. Our staff has also been trained externally,” she said. When asked about expansion of the centre’s services, she said in-vitro procedures like IVF require a more elaborate setup and cannot be taken up at the present time at the hospital.
According to senior health department officials, the Telangana government plans to provide free-of-cost assisted reproduction services in other maternity hospitals over time.
“After witnessing the response at Gandhi Hospital, the plan is to start at IUI at Niloufer, Petlaburj and Warangal MGM Hospital. While IVF is also being planned we do not want to rush into it as we are introducing assisted reproductive services for the first time,” said Director of Medical Education K. Ramesh Reddy.
Dr. Reddy said the centre at Gandhi Hospital is set for inauguration on January 25 by Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy. Health officials stress that the State will venture into surrogacy later., which is part of infertility services offered in private healthcare. Telangana is attempting to regulate surrogacy and has constituted a committee to study the practice before making recommendations to the government.
Published - January 23, 2018 11:52 pm IST
