A Landmark Initiative in Public Healthcare
Forty years after India’s first officially documented test-tube baby was born at KEM Hospital, the civic hospital is set to inaugurate a state-of-the-art in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) centre on Monday. The new centre, named MAA, is a public-private partnership between the hospital and its former students, Dr Anjali Malpani and Dr Aniruddha Malpani. State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar will inaugurate the facility.
Affordable IVF for the City
The MAA clinic primarily aims to make IVF treatment affordable for women in the city. Dr Anjali Malpani stated that while a single IVF cycle costs up to Rs 3 lakh in the private sector, the KEM centre will offer the treatment at one-fifth of that amount.
Notably, within just two months of opening for outpatient consultations, more than 100 women registered for various IVF treatments at the hospital. This strong response highlights the urgent need for accessible fertility services.
Advanced Technology and Expanding Services
Recently, the team carried out the first intrauterine insemination (IUI) at the KEM IVF clinic. IUI, the most basic infertility treatment, involves placing concentrated sperm directly into the uterus.
Furthermore, Dr Anjali Malpani confirmed that the centre features a modern embryology laboratory, digital medical record-keeping, and advanced IVF technology. She also pledged to contribute Rs 1 crore annually to the MAA clinic for the next five years. In addition, the clinic will soon begin cryopreservation services for embryos, eggs, and sperm.
Focus on Teaching and Research
The centre, located next to the only multi-storeyed building on the KEM campus, will not only provide treatment but also promote teaching and research. Dr Malpani emphasised that the multidisciplinary team in this teaching hospital will dedicate itself to delivering safe and effective fertility care.
A Historic Legacy in Reproductive Medicine
As reported by TOI, the launch carries historic significance. Harsha Chawda, born at KEM Hospital on August 6, 1986, was India’s first scientifically documented IVF baby. Much of the laboratory work for the procedure was conducted at the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, located near KEM.
However, a few years ago, the Indian Council of Medical Research credited Kolkata-based Subhash Mukhopadhyay with India’s first test-tube baby, delivered in 1978. This birth occurred just months after the world’s first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in the UK.
Thus, with the inauguration of the MAA centre, KEM Hospital not only strengthens public access to fertility care but also reaffirms its historic role in advancing reproductive medicine in India.