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Madurai's Fertility Gap: Private Clinics Thrive, Public Hospitals Lag
8 Feb
Summary
- Government hospitals in Tamil Nadu, except Chennai, lack fertility treatment facilities.
- Private clinics often do not fully comply with regulations on fee transparency.
- Madurai GRH has seen 4,000 outpatients for fertility, with 10 successful deliveries.
Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) are expanding in Madurai's private clinics, yet public hospitals, including Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), lag behind. Despite serving a large low-income population, GRH and other district government medical college hospitals have yet to introduce comprehensive fertility services, unlike facilities in Chennai.
Veronica Mary, a health activist, notes that continuous advertising by private fertility centers draws vulnerable couples. She also raises concerns about some private clinics not fully complying with the Clinical Establishments Act, regarding fee transparency.
Madurai GRH has initiated Level 1 fertility procedures, managing 4,000 outpatients since 2023, with 10 successful deliveries and 15 ongoing pregnancies. However, advanced treatments like IVF still require referral to Chennai.
Steps are underway at GRH to implement Level 2 treatments, including procuring equipment and recruiting specialized technicians. This development aims to bridge the service gap, though the full IVF setup awaits inspection and necessary groundwork.
