KEM Hospital Inaugurates Affordable IVF Center Four Decades After Historic Birth
Mumbai's KEM Hospital is set to inaugurate a cutting-edge in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) center on Monday, exactly forty years after India's first officially documented test-tube baby was born at the same civic hospital. This landmark development represents a significant advancement in accessible reproductive healthcare for the city.
Public-Private Partnership Drives Affordable Treatment
The new center, named MAA, is the result of a strategic public-private partnership between KEM Hospital and its former students, Dr. Anjali and Aniruddha Malpani. State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar will officiate the inauguration ceremony. Dr. Anjali Malpani emphasized that the primary objective of establishing the MAA clinic is to provide the most affordable IVF treatment available to women in Mumbai.
"While a single IVF cycle can cost up to Rs 3 lakh in the private sector, our center will offer the same advanced treatment at just one-fifth of that price," Dr. Malpani stated. This substantial cost reduction is expected to make fertility treatments accessible to a much broader demographic.
Strong Demand and Advanced Facilities
Even before its formal inauguration, the center has demonstrated significant demand. Over the past two months, while operating for outpatient consultations only, more than 100 women have already registered for various IVF treatments at the hospital. The clinic recently conducted its first intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure, which is considered the most basic infertility treatment involving the direct placement of concentrated sperm into the uterus.
The MAA clinic boasts comprehensive modern facilities including:
- A sophisticated embryology laboratory
- Digital medical record-keeping systems
- State-of-the-art advanced IVF technology
- Future cryopreservation services for embryos, eggs, and sperm
Commitment to Education and Long-Term Support
Located adjacent to the only multi-storeyed building on the KEM campus, the center will not only focus on patient care but also prioritize teaching and research initiatives. Dr. Malpani highlighted the multidisciplinary approach, noting that "this team in a teaching hospital will be dedicated to delivering safe and effective fertility treatment."
Demonstrating remarkable commitment, Dr. Anjali Malpani has pledged to contribute Rs 1 crore annually to support the MAA clinic's operations for the next five years, ensuring sustained financial stability for the facility.
Historical Context and Recognition
The inauguration holds special historical significance. Harsha Chawda, born at KEM Hospital on August 6, 1986, was recognized as India's first scientifically documented IVF baby. Most of the laboratory work for that pioneering procedure was conducted at the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, located near KEM Hospital.
Interestingly, the Indian Council of Medical Research has previously credited Kolkata-based Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay with achieving India's first test-tube baby in 1978, just months after the world's first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in the United Kingdom. This historical acknowledgment adds depth to India's journey in reproductive medicine, which now takes another significant step forward with KEM Hospital's new affordable IVF center.
