PANAJI
The State government has tweaked an existing scheme to provide up to Rs 5 lakh for fertility treatment for childless couples of scheduled tribe community in Goa.
ST community couples who fail to bear a child even after three years of marriage due to primary infertility or other medical reasons can avail the funds for treatment at government hospitals and other empanelled private hospitals.
The financial assistance, up to a maximum of Rs 5 lakhs, includes the actual cost of treatment including diagnostic investigation, medicine, hospital admission, professional fees of any specialist in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Director of Tribal Welfare heads the committee empowered to empanel private hospitals or nursing homes for the scheme.
The panel will also comprise Professor & Head of Gynecology Department of Goa Medical College, Chief Medical Officer of the Directorate of Health Services, Head of Gynecology from North Goa District Hospital, Head of Gynecology from South Goa District Hospital and the Deputy Director of Welfare as its Secretary.
Private hospitals desirous of getting empanelled are required to apply and submit their financial-cum-medical proposals to the Director of Tribal Welfare. The empanelment will be for a period of five years.
Only hospitals with at least two years of experience in IUI as well as IVF and having facilities in the same hospital are eligible but will have to have a record of at least 25 per-cent success rate.
Couples where either the husband or the wife belongs to a Scheduled Tribe community are eligible to avail the scheme and no income limit is set.
