India has seen rising infertility rates and increasing demand for fertility preservation, but access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) services in the public sector remains extremely limited. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India has an estimated 27.5 million infertile couples, and fewer than 5 percent of IVF cycles are performed in government hospitals, creating a significant treatment gap. (ICMR 2020)
Mumbai: Cama & Albless Hospital has become the first government hospital in Maharashtra to receive official approval to run an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Bank and provide egg freezing, sperm storage and IVF services free of cost under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJ JAY). The move expands access to fertility care for low income and middle income families who previously depended on private IVF centres.
Reports from multiple health departments confirmed that the ART Bank will store, screen and freeze donated eggs, sperm and embryos. The service is a part of the hospital’s plan to establish a full scale infertility program within the public sector.
Cama Hospital is the first public hospital in Maharashtra to receive approval for egg freezing and sperm bank services. According to officials, the introduction of an ART Bank will help individuals and couples who cannot conceive naturally and those who risk losing their fertility due to medical treatment.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy often reduce reproductive potential in both men and women. Fertility preservation through egg or sperm freezing before cancer treatment can significantly increase the chance of future conception. Until now, most cancer patients in Mumbai relied on private clinics where egg freezing costs typically range between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh and IVF cycles cost between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh.
Under MJ JAY, eligible patients will now be able to access these services at no cost.
The hospital started its infertility outpatient services in 2024. The Times of India reported that 888 women visited the IVF centre since May 2024. Out of these, 178 patients received basic treatment and 41 pregnancies were recorded. The hospital continues to receive new cases, and several patients remain on the waiting list.
Media reports also noted that 379 infertility related consultations took place in the first five months of 2025, indicating rising demand for affordable fertility care.
The approved ART Bank will enable the hospital to:
• Collect and freeze eggs for women at risk of fertility loss
• Store sperm for use in future fertility procedures
• Provide donor sperm where medically necessary
• Offer embryo freezing once the laboratory becomes fully functional
• Support IVF treatments as part of a government funded reproductive health program
Officials told the Free Press Journal that Cama is now equipped to complete the full chain of assisted reproduction, including procedures such as IUI, ICSI and embryo transfer.
District Planning and Development Council funds of approximately Rs 4.62 crore were sanctioned to develop the IVF laboratory and associated services. The hospital is completing infrastructure upgrades to offer the entire range of IVF services under one roof.
According to the Indian Express, Cama Hospital already hosts cancer and breast cancer clinics and functions as a centre for women’s health, education and research. Free cancer treatment has been underway at the facility for more than a year, integrating oncology and reproductive care for patients.
Private IVF centres in Mumbai charge high out of pocket costs, which limits access to treatment for many families. With state support, Cama’s programme aims to reduce financial limitations that prevent people from pursuing fertility preservation or IVF.
The addition of egg and sperm banking in a public hospital also supports individuals who wish to preserve fertility before undergoing cancer treatment or other procedures that could impact reproductive health.
Maharashtra has not previously offered a complete IVF program through a government hospital. While KEM Hospital and Sion Hospital are working to introduce similar services, Cama & Albless Hospital is the first to operationalise an ART Bank and approved fertility preservation services in the state.
Health officials expect that the integrated public sector model will provide long term support to patients who cannot afford private fertility care. The programme is likely to expand as more infrastructure and trained specialists are added.
Reference:
1. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of ART Clinics in India. New Delhi: ICMR, 2020.
(Rh/MSM)
