Latest news with #InstituteofObstetricsandGynaecology
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Amid falling fertility, Tamil Nadu has just one government IVF facility
MADURAI: Amid increasing demand for affordable infertility treatment, only one government facility — the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children at Egmore in Chennai — offers the high-cost In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment in Tamil Nadu, compared to 697 private institutions offering the service across districts. The prohibitive cost of the treatment in private facilities, which runs into lakhs, makes it unaffordable for thousands of patients. The spatial distribution of these private institutions, too, is skewed in favour of larger cities, making it difficult for people from smaller towns and villages to access them. A recent UN report revealed that India's fertility rate has declined to 1.9 births per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. (Replacement rate refers to the fertility rate needed for a population to maintain its current size). Access to infertility treatment plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of falling fertility rates. 'Total cost per cycle can be below Rs 1 lakh in govt hosp' According to an RTI reply, as on April 21, 2025, there are 697 private IVF centres across TN — 175 in Chennai, 69 (Coimbatore), 41 (Madurai), 40 (Salem), 32 (Trichy), 30 (Dindigul), 28 (Erode), 23 (Kanniyakumari), 16 (Virudhunagar), 14 (Dharmapuri and others). 'The total cost of treatment at these centres starts at Rs 3 lakh, and this is applicable just for one cycle (first sitting). For a healthy couple (healthy sperm and egg), the treatment would cost Rs 2 lakh, and medicines Rs 1 lakh. In case of any abnormalities, the treatment cost would shoot up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for medicines,' said a gynaecologist from a private hospital in Madurai.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
MNCU, ART centre, ECRC opened at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Sunday inaugurated a Mother – Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) and an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centre at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The MNCU built at a cost of ₹86 lakh has 10 beds for mothers with attached facilities for newborns. This will ensure treatment of ailing postnatal mothers or newborns within the same space, without separating them. The Minister said that the ART centre that has come up at the tertiary level government hospital at a cost of ₹16.3 lakh will help couples from poor economic backgrounds undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which in private facilities cost ₹10 to ₹12 lakh. Already such centres have come up at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Egmore and the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, he said. Mr. Subramanian said that the government, as announced earlier, has launched provision of somatrogon, a medication for growth hormone deficiency in children, at a cost of ₹13.28 crore. At a time, each beneficiary will be given the medication, which comes as a disposable injection pen, for five weeks that cost around ₹60,000. The medical will continue as prescribed by doctors. The Minister also inaugurated an Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) at the hospital, which is a 15-bedded facility for the care and treatment of homeless persons and those who are found on streets, requiring immediate medical attention. He said 16 ECRCs are functioning across the State with the support of non-governmental organisations. He also distributed free spectacles to 50 persons aged above 50, who underwent eye check-up camps organised by the district administration in collaboration with Rotary International at Thondamuthur, Madukkarai, Negamam, Karamadai, Sarkarsamakulam, Sulthanpet, Valparai, Periyanaickenpalayam and Annur. Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department P. Senthil Kumar, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore MP Ganapathy P. Rajkumar, Pollachi MP K. Eswarasamy, Mayor K. Ranganayaki, Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and CMCH Dean A. Nirmala were present. On Sunday morning, the Minister trekked to a few tribal settlements near Kovai Courtallam and got feedback from residents on the reach of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. He also awarded degrees to medical students in the graduation ceremonies held at Coimbatore Medical College and the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital on Sunday.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Failure to revise ‘Contracted Demand' leads to ₹4.88 crore excess power charges in 10 Tamil Nadu government buildings, says CAG report
Failure of the departments to revise the 'Contracted Demand' based on actual electricity consumption resulted in an excess expenditure of ₹4.88 crore on power charges in 10 government buildings in Chennai. And inaction on the part of the government to undertake correction of power factor in another government building resulted in an avoidable expenditure of ₹1.68 crore, according to report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 2023 that was tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The 10 departments, include Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts, Saidapet; Tamil Nadu State Information Commission, Saidapet; Commercial Taxes and Registration Department; Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission; Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption; Commissionerate of Municipal Administration ; Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Egmore; Directorate of School Education; Employees' State Insurance Hospital, Ayanavaram and the Government Polytechnic College. The CAG mentioned that government should direct all the departments to review the 'Contracted Demand' of all government buildings and revise the agreement with Tangedco based on actual consumption observed in these offices. The 'Contracted Demand' for a HT connection is specified in the agreement between the consumer and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) and is fixed based on the request of the HT consumer. The Regulation 17(6) of TNESC enables HT consumers to reduce the existing contracted demand up to 50% once in a year, after expiry of the initial agreement period of one year. Tangedco shall effect such change within seven days from the date of receipt of application from the consumer. The Demand Charges component in the electricity bill is calculated based on the actual recorded demand or 90% of the 'Contracted Demand', whichever is higher. Audit scrutiny of records relating to vouchers for payment of electricity bills of 10 HT consumers in government departments during 2017-23, revealed that the 'Recorded Demand' was much lower than the 'Contracted Demand' during the entire period Four HT consumers did not utilise even 50% of the 'Contracted Demand' in any of the months for which the EB bills were scrutinised by audit. Though the 'Contracted Demand' ranged between 120 KVA to 2,614 KVA, the corresponding maximum demand ranged only between 39.36 KVA and 1,283.70 KVA. The actual consumption ranged between 3% and 84.80% of the 'Contracted Demand'. The average 'Recorded Demand' was as low as 19% (163 KVA compared to 'Contracted Demand' of 850 KVA) in Registration and Commercial Taxes department building. The Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Egmore recorded the maximum average 'Recorded Demand' at 56% (449.20 KVA compared to 'Contracted Demand' of 800 KVA). None of the offices revised the 'Contracted Demand' in spite of low utilisation, even though a provision was available. The proposal of the departments seeking the PWD (Electrical) for assessment of the HT demand and the assessment of the PWD arriving at the 'Contracted Demand' was not made available to audit to understand the basis of seeking such high demand which remained unutilised. Audit calculated the avoidable expenditure on Demand Charges by calculating the difference between the actual 'Contracted Demand' and a reasonable 'Contracted Demand' of each HT consumer. The reasonable 'Contracted Demand' was arrived at by adding 10% to the highest 'Recorded Demand' of each HT consumer. The analysis revealed that, despite adopting the above methodology, the excess payment towards electricity charges calculated at the prevailing rates was ₹4.88 crore indicating that a more realistic revision would have resulted in savings in expenditure.
