The SAT Hospital here has become the first public sector hospital in the State with a Reproductive Medicine department and a modern fertility clinic which offer IVF and various ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) treatment options.
Since 2010
While the IVF facility has been functioning since 2010, the centre was recently elevated to a separate Reproductive Medicine department with the government creating three new posts.
IVF is a very expensive treatment, not easily affordable to most families.
This is the only IVF facility in the public sector in the State and one which has been offering ART options, including IVF, at affordable rates.
There are just two medical colleges in the country, that too in the private sector, offering the super speciality course (MCh) in Reproductive Medicine.
Steps are being initiated to start the MCh course at the Reproductive Medicine department at SAT Hospital too, which will make it the only government medical college to offer the course.
Inauguration
The formal inauguration of the department and a get-together of the over 100 babies born through IVF and parents will be held at the Old auditorium at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Wednesday. Health and Social Justice Minister K.K. Shylaja will inaugurate the meeting.