The Government’s decision comes as a ray of hope to couples who had been unable to avail infertility treatment due to financial constraints. We had been aware of the immense mental anguish faced by childless couples, often leading to women going into depression.
Many couples were forced to sell their gold, properties, or take loans to take the treatment to fulfil their desire for a child and a happy marriage. Many such affected people went to the extent of giving up hope of having a child. Our government had been striving to come up with a solution to this, and the CSR policy of GMCH came up as one of the best initiatives to take care of the high cost of IVF treatment. The fact that now, no patient will be charged for the IVF treatment has been welcomed wholeheartedly by the people of Goa. Already, 50 to 100 persons have
registered to avail benefit under this initiative, reflecting the level of confidence the people of Goa have in the Government.
The GMCH, which will have the distinction of being the first government hospital in the country to provide IVF treatment free of cost, is a premier centre of medical care, attracting patients from outside the State as well. The GMCH Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has been serving the community by attending to the needs of numerous patients each year. The IVF treatment requires specialised care spread over many weeks. To ensure that the entire procedure is handled seamlessly, a streamlined process has been established. Renowned infertility specialist Dr Kedar Padte will provide his expertise in the GMCH in this initiative. His experience and commitment to reproductive health will be instrumental in shaping the success of this initiative.
Integrated system
Once the guidelines are ready, patients will be directed to the ART centre for an expert committee comprising Dr Kedar Padte and others, who will confirm the decision for IVF and initiate the induction protocol. Representatives of the department are undergoing training to understand
the intricacies of the procedure. Many lectures on this subject have already
been held, and equipment for IUI is being procured. Technical issues are being rectified. Nurses for ART will soon be trained in required procedures.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) has been created for the IVF procedure at GMCH to ensure a seamless transition from diagnosis to proper workup, counselling, and treatment. Infertility patients in need of the facility for primary sterility will be referred from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology OPD to the ART Centre, a world class facility that has been established on the eighth floor of the super speciality block. They will then be provided with a date for the necessary treatment. As an auxiliary facility, a mother and child block is being set up in GMCH, which will be integrated with the hospital’s Gynaecology Department.
Many of those who have registered for the treatment have undergone treatment at various locations outside Goa and have spent huge amounts of money on the same, but without any result. The introduction of this IVF center in Goa will greatly benefit those who have struggled before. As part of continuously upgrading and expanding the facilities, a big Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will be set up as part of it.
Any couple living in Goa, who is unable to conceive naturally, will be able to avail of the free IVF treatment. The government has also set up a dedicated helpline number where couples can get all their queries answered and avail of free IVF treatment. There are many things about the IVF procedure that people are still unaware of. Since the treatment was not easily available so far, they had to depend on whatever information they could get from often unreliable sources. It is the endeavour of the State government to not only provide the best-possible health care to the would-be mothers, but also to keep them updated with all relevant information; so that can take the right and informed decisions.
A shining model
Behind the success of Goa’s model of health care for all are the efforts and commitment of the State’s Directorate of Health Services to provide top-notch services to the people of Goa. Gradual steps are being taken to introduce new treatments in the public health system. The use of technology to provide better medical facilities is a continuous exercise. The goal of our government is to ensure hi-tech healthcare. Goa has the distinction of being the first State to offer free breast cancer testing. The State government has been working tirelessly to improve the quality of urban as well as rural health centres and to build super specialty hospitals. It has also been decided to send a batch of 50 nurses to Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai for advanced postgraduate
training in oncology and cancer patients’ treatment and care.
India has some of the highest IVF success rates in the world, and IVF treatment in major cities in India attracts a large number of foreign nationals as well. With this momentous development, Goa establishes itself as a trailblazer in healthcare services. The Government of Goa is committed to meet the aspirations of the people of the State. The objective is to present a model of governance that ensures welfare and well-being of all. The State government hopes that this move will make Goa a major hub for fertility treatments in India. It is hoped that other States will soon follow suit.
(The writer is the Minister for Health, Urban Development, Town and Country Planning, Women and Child Welfare, and Forests in the Government of Goa)