Rajasthan rolls out scheme for childless couples

JAIPUR: The state government wants to help out childless couples, unable to bear the treatment expenses, by extending monetary assistance. The scheme was announced as part of the 2012-13 budget presentation but the medical, health and family welfare department has recently issued guidelines for its implementation.
Department officials said that important medicines for infertility treatment have not been covered under the chief minister free medicine scheme.Therefore, under this scheme, couples with an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh can avail of financial assistance up to Rs 20,000 from the state.
Director (health) Dr B R Meena said, "The childless couple needs to provide an income certificate to seek financial assistance. The annual income of the couple should not exceed Rs1lakh. The department will accept income certificate signed by any gazetted officer."
The scheme is aimed at helping childless couples, who cannot afford treatment expenses, start a family.
The scheme, Meena said, will provide assistance to procure medicines and the couple's treatment at an authorized fertility clinic registered with the state government.
According to health department officials, the cost of infertility treatment is around Rs 1 lakh. The scheme therefore does not reimburse the expenses incurred on surrogacy (hiring of womb) or third party assistance (donor egg or sperm).
The government has also put a cap on the number of couples who can take the benefit of the scheme in a year. "In one year, the number of couples availing reimbursement should not exceed 10,000 in the state," the scheme guidelines stated.
However, on the request of the health and family welfare department, the finance department can increase the number of beneficiary couples, subject to availability of budgetary provision.
The scheme would benefit those whose fallopian tubes have been damaged following genital tuberculosis or after failed recanalization post tubectomy. Also, in other medical conditions where ovulation is absent or irregular, and patients have failed to conceive after conventional or surgical method for a reasonable time period, the scheme may prove to be of help.