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Critical Lab Medium Shortage Halts IVF Services
9 Jan
Summary
- IVF services stalled for six months due to lab medium shortage.
- Affordable treatment for childless couples disrupted.
- New incubator procured, but services await medium.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) services at Queen Mary's Hospital, under King George's Medical University (KGMU), have been suspended for approximately six months. The prolonged halt is attributed to the non-availability of a crucial laboratory medium required for preserving embryos, leaving many childless couples in limbo.
These vital services, crucial for affordable fertility treatment, were partially resumed in July 2025 but could not sustain regular procedures. The procurement process for the essential medium faced setbacks, moving from local purchase to a vertical tender that did not succeed. KGMU is now initiating procurement through the government e-marketplace (GeM) portal.
A dedicated IVF team remains available, and initial testing for patients is ongoing. A new CO2 incubator machine has been procured and installed. Around 20% of women visiting the hospital's maternity OPD experience fertility issues, highlighting the importance of these services.
