Andhra Govt plans to introduce fertility treatment in hospitals

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to introduce fertility treatment services in government hospitals, making assisted reproductive care accessible and affordable for thousands of couples across the state.

Senior officials in the Health Department confirmed that the government is working on a comprehensive plan to establish fertility treatment facilities in select government medical institutions and bring such services under the ambit of the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. The move aims to reduce the financial burden on families, as fertility treatments such as IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) and related procedures are currently available largely in private hospitals at prohibitively high costs.

In a recent address at the World Population Day summit, the Chief Minister pointed to global trends and expressed concern over the declining fertility rates in developed countries. “In the U.S., it stands at 1.62; in the UK, 1.54; France, 1.49; Germany, 1.46; Japan, 1.23; and Singapore just 0.96. All these are well below the replacement rate of 2.1, which is required to maintain population stability.” In India, only a few states like Bihar (3.0), Meghalaya (2.9), and Uttar Pradesh (2.4) are above the threshold, while Andhra Pradesh lags at 1.7, indicating the need for proactive policy measures.

Furthermore, Naidu elaborated on international models where countries are encouraging citizens to have more children. “Japan offers child-care support and housing subsidies. South Korea provides direct cash incentives and assistance for IVF treatments. Singapore offers a ‘Baby Bonus’ and matched savings for every newborn. Russia, China, Hungary, and others offer free healthcare, tax exemptions, and financial aid to large families.”

Speaking about the initiative, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the government is committed to ensuring equitable access to advanced healthcare services. “Fertility treatment has remained out of reach for many families because of the high costs involved. Under the leadership and vision of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, we are working towards introducing fertility care in government hospitals and bringing it under NTR Vaidya Seva so that eligible couples can receive treatment without financial distress,” the minister said.

Dr. Anitha Reddy, a senior reproductive medicine specialist associated with a government teaching hospital said, “We are seeing a significant rise in infertility among young couples, largely due to lifestyle changes, stress, and delayed childbearing. Introducing fertility services in government hospitals will not only make treatment affordable but also reduce social stigma by bringing reproductive health into mainstream public healthcare,” she said.

Officials indicated that once included under NTR Vaidya Seva, eligible beneficiaries could receive subsidized or fully covered treatment, potentially saving families several lakhs of rupees per cycle. The government is also exploring partnerships for advanced equipment procurement and specialist training to maintain clinical standards comparable to private fertility centres.