IVF Costs in India Skyrocket, Burdening Couples

In India, couples undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) face significant financial hardship as treatment costs remain unregulated, despite existing frameworks for advanced infertility treatments. A study by ICMR-NIRRCH revealed that the average out-of-pocket expenditure for a single IVF cycle surpasses ₹1 lakh in both public and private facilities, placing immense pressure on infertile couples.

Female factors are identified as the primary contributor to infertility in India, accounting for 46% of cases, with male factors contributing 20%. Advanced treatments like IVF are required by approximately 8% of infertile couples. The study also noted that patients with uterine factor infertility and endometriosis reported the lowest quality of life due to pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression.

The research proposes integrating IVF services into the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme, recommending a coverage of ₹81,332 per cycle. This move aims to make fertility treatments more accessible and reduce the emotional and financial burden on couples, especially considering that most infertility treatment costs are outpatient-based and currently not covered under PM-JAY.