Hans News Service Hubballi

Karnatakais preparing to launch its first IVF treatment centre under a government medical college setup at the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMC-RI) in Hubballi. The project, which is nearing completion, is expected to make fertility treatment affordable and accessible to common people, especially couples from financially weaker backgrounds.

The IVF facility is being developed within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KMC-RI. Though the project was originally planned under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the state government later decided to operate the centre directly under government supervision to ensure wider public benefit.

Officials said delays in implementation were caused due to lack of clarity regarding operational guidelines and administrative structure. However, the government has now sanctioned funds and provided necessary approvals to run the centre under the ABRK healthcare scheme.

KMC-RI Director Dr. Eshwar Hosamani said the government has fixed the IVF treatment cost at ₹1.34 lakh per patient. Importantly, if treatment fails in the first attempt, beneficiaries can undergo up to three cycles within the same approved package, offering significant financial relief to couples struggling with infertility.

The hospital administration has already completed most of the infrastructure development work and is awaiting the final licence approval from authorities. Officials said more than 90 percent of the preparations have been completed.

To make the centre fully functional, KMC-RI is in the process of appointing two highly specialised professionals — an Embryologist and an Artificial Reproductive Technologist. Since such positions are not available in the existing government recruitment structure, they will be hired through contractual service agreements via tender.

Authorities said these appointments are mandatory to secure operational licensing for the IVF centre. The government has also approved procurement of medicines and advanced laboratory support through the tender process. The cost of medicines required for a single IVF cycle is estimated to be around ₹50,000.

Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil had reportedly advised officials to avoid the PPP model and instead establish the facility entirely within the government system so that patients could receive affordable treatment without dependence on private operators.

The Hubballi centre is expected to become a benchmark project for the state. Encouraged by the progress at KMC-RI, the Karnataka government has also initiated plans to establish similar IVF facilities in medical colleges located in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi.

Experts say the government-run IVF centre could significantly reduce the financial burden on infertile couples, as private IVF treatment often costs several lakhs of rupees. Once operational, the facility is likely to benefit patients not only from North Karnataka but also from neighbouring districts and rural regions lacking advanced fertility care services.