The long wait for affordable fertility care in Southern Tamil Nadu

Explore the challenges of accessing affordable fertility care in Southern Tamil Nadu, highlighting gaps in public healthcare services.

As private fertility clinics multiply across Madurai and throughout the State, offering a range of Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART), there lies a huge question of why such services are absent at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and other major government medical college hospitals in districts other than Chennai? Despite a steady flow of couples seeking infertility care, the hospitals are yet to introduce fertility treatment facilities, leaving economically weaker patients with limited options.

Madurai has emerged as a key medical hub for southern Tamil Nadu, inviting patients from neighbouring districts for specialised care. In recent years, however, infertility treatment has largely remained within the private sector, and the high cost of treatment makes it unaffordable for many families.

Veronica Mary, health activist, says the absence of fertility treatments at Madurai GRH — which serves a predominantly rural and low-income population — highlights a significant gap in reproductive healthcare delivery.

When asked about the rise in fertility treatment offered by private hospitals in cities, especially in the southern region, she said continuous advertising across multiple platforms was drawing vulnerable couples towards such clinics. She also pointed out that several private fertility centres did not appear to be fully complying with provisions of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, which mandates transparency in fees, including the display of approved charge ranges and adherence to prescribed fee structures.

She also noted that even if fertility treatment facilities were to be established at the GRH, the availability of trained manpower would be a critical factor in ensuring that the services function effectively and are accessible to all sections of the population.

She added that, similar to private fertility centres, any fertility treatment facility at the GRH would require a dedicated team of doctors and trained staff to monitor patients on a round-the-clock basis. Continuous medical supervision, she said, was essential for such treatments, which involve multiple stages and close observation, and would be key to ensuring effective outcomes.