Fri Dec 05 17:15:56 UTC 2025: News Article:

IVF Costs in India Remain a Significant Burden Despite Regulations, Study Finds

New Delhi, December 5, 2025 – A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH) has revealed that the high cost of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in India continues to place a substantial financial burden on couples struggling with infertility, even with existing regulatory frameworks. The study, aimed at assessing the cost of infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF, found that the average out-of-pocket expenditure for a single IVF cycle exceeds ₹1 lakh in both private and public hospitals.

The research, conducted across multiple tertiary health facilities, involved collecting data from patients undergoing both IVF and general infertility treatments. Findings indicated that female factors contribute to 46% of infertility cases, followed by male factors at 20%. While IVF offers hope, only about 8% of infertile couples require such advanced and costly treatments. PCOS was the most common factor for infertile couples.

Median out-of-pocket expenditure for general infertility treatment was found to be ₹11,317, with direct medical costs being higher in private facilities and non-medical, indirect costs greater in public facilities. Furthermore, patients with uterine factor infertility and endometriosis reported a lower health-related quality of life, citing pain, discomfort, anxiety, and depression.

Experts emphasize that success rates with IVF vary, with cumulative success increasing with each attempt. The study also highlighted a growing demand to include IVF services under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) scheme.

“Every one in six couples in India suffer from infertility issues. With India’s fertility rate declining, it becomes even more critical to integrate fertility-related healthcare into the larger health insurance framework” said Shobhit Agarwal, CEO, Nova IVF Fertility.

Currently, while a regulatory framework for ART services is in place, it doesn’t control pricing. As per a systemic review, medical costs of one ART cycle are significantly higher (166.4%) than patients’ average annual income in India.

The report has recommended coverage of IVF under PM-JAY at ₹81,332 for one IVF cycle. In response to the findings, the Health Ministry requested Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAIn) to estimate treatment costs for possible inclusion in the AB-PM-JAY. The study recommended that as most infertility treatment expenditure is OPD based this needs to be considered for including IVF in PM-JAY package.

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