Mumbai: The true measure of any medical advancement lies in how many patients actually benefit from it. Yet even the most groundbreaking innovations confront the age-old dilemma of cost, which can impede adoption among the very patients they are intended to serve.
Infertility care has emerged as one of the few medical breakthroughs in recent decades. However, high treatment costs and the lack of systemic insurance coverage often leave patients hesitant, navigating their journey in uncertainty and silence.
While select corporate initiatives attempt to offset expenses, the absence of widespread coverage keeps many couples struggling privately.
Delving into this challenge, the sixth edition of the ETHealthworld Fertility Conclave convened a panel discussion themed: ‘IVF for All: Equitable Access Through Insurance Reforms.’
Dr. Navina Singh, Chapter Secretary–Greater Mumbai, Indian Fertility Society, stresses that in India, IVF sits at the intersection of medical necessity and market demand. The service is fundamentally a medical phenomenon shaped by the rising burden of infertility.
“Currently, around 25–30 million couples in India face infertility, and for the majority, it stems from genuine medical conditions rather than lifestyle choices,” she noted.
According to Dr. Singh, the proliferation of IVF service providers in India over the past decade—largely driven by corporate chains and strong investor interest—has significantly improved infrastructure, awareness, and accessibility for patients seeking fertility care.
Dr. Manisha T. Kundnani, Scientific Director and Chief Fertility Consultant at Fertility Square – The Fertility Clinic, explained that while technological innovations in IVF have drastically improved success rates, they have also significantly increased treatment costs. She added that the use of ovarian stimulation drugs further raises the overall expense for patients.
Dr. Aditi Tandon, Director and Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr. Sudha Tandon Gynaec Endoscopy and Infertility Centre, highlighted the compounding effect of delayed pregnancy.
“By the mid to late 30s, many women experience reduced egg reserves, making IVF more complex and often necessitating multiple cycles, which escalates both financial and emotional costs,” Dr Tandon said.
Dr. Vidyalatha Atluri, Founder and Chief Consultant Infertility Specialist at Mitra Fertility & Beyond, added that most couples require more than one IVF cycle to achieve pregnancy.
“This emotional setback can undermine confidence in the procedure and affect decisions on subsequent cycles. Many patients either discontinue treatment after the first attempt or delay further cycles,” she noted.
On insurance coverage, Dr. Singh pointed out that IVF procedures lack standardized rates due to multiple influencing factors, including variations in patient success rates, the number of cycles required, and additional services offered by clinics. These inconsistencies make it difficult for insurers to define clear policies.
Dr. Kundnani suggested that standardized treatment protocols, transparent outcome reporting, and a national-level ART registry could help address insurers’ concerns.
“The uncertainty largely arises from last-minute add-ons prescribed by practitioners based on individual patient needs. A tier-based model differentiating between basic and advanced procedures could provide room for partial coverage,” she explained.
Dr. Atluri cited the UK as an example, where a robust national registry regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ensures every clinical report and success rate is documented. This not only enhances credibility but also creates a strong dataset for informed policy-making and insurer confidence.
While several insurance players have entered India’s fertility landscape, Dr. Tandon emphasised the need to broaden policies to cover comprehensive fertility care, including procedures such as laparoscopy and egg freezing, which are proactive approaches to managing fertility.
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