A new ICMR-NIRRCH study highlights the substantial financial burden of infertility care in India. Median out-of-pocket expenses for infertility treatment reach Rs 7,340 in public hospitals and Rs 11,834 in private settings, with one in four couples experiencing catastrophic health expenditure. The strain is even more pronounced with IVF, averaging Rs 1.1 lakh in public facilities and Rs 2.38 lakhs in private hospitals, where a striking 85% of patients face catastrophic costs. The estimated health system cost for one IVF cycle is Rs 81,332, and Rs 35,087 for subsequent cycles.
At a national scale, providing three IVF cycles for over 3.3 lakh eligible women would require approximately Rs 5,035 crores. Based on these findings, the study recommends adopting these costs as benchmark package rates for public health programs. Because IVF-related expenses are largely outpatient and OPD care is…
