Bringing cheer to the numerous childless couples in the country, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi has become the first government hospital to launch a state-of-the-art in-vitro fertility (IVF) clinic.
"The IVF clinic was on the anvil for a long time. But we have finally set it up. It is the only government hospital in the country that is offering such a costly treatment," Sunita Mittal, Head of Department of the Gynecology at AIIMS, said.
The setting-up of the clinic, which was given a go-ahead by the Health Ministry, last year, took time because of lack of space and other facilities.
The clinic was finally carved out after the doctors took initiative and used the space they could do without in the existing Gyne ward.
"We didn't want to take any chance with the equipment. We waited, but we didn't compromise. Today, we have state-of- the-art machinery," said Mittal, who took a keen interest in setting up the clinic and would head it.
"We have started enrollment and would screen the women before we carry out the actual procedure. We will do it only if the person fits the bill and not otherwise," she said.
{{/usCountry}}"We have started enrollment and would screen the women before we carry out the actual procedure. We will do it only if the person fits the bill and not otherwise," she said.
{{/usCountry}}Though the cost of the treatment, which is very expensive in private hospitals, is yet to be decided, Mittal said it would "cost less as compared to other facilities".
In India, one out of five couples is childless and their numbers are growing.