Nova IVF launches IUI clinic in Dimapur, bringing affordable fertility care closer, cutting travel, costs, and treatment barriers for couples
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DIMAPUR — Hope for parenthood just got closer for many Nagaland couples, with affordable fertility treatment now available in Dimapur courtesy the launch of Nova IVF Centre—a state-of-the-art Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) clinic—at Dr. Belho’s Clinic & Children Hospital in Dimapur on Saturday.
The facility is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel to Guwahati in Assam for basic fertility procedures, easing financial, logistical and emotional burdens that many couples have long faced.
Announcing the launch at a press conference, Dr. Mhasiseno T Belho, proprietor and Senior Consultant at Dr. Belho’s Clinic & Children Hospital, said that the initiative brings advanced yet affordable fertility care closer to the people of Nagaland.
“This collaboration focuses on accessibility and affordability,” she said, adding that the centre integrates Nova IVF’s protocols and expertise with the hospital’s existing services to address gaps in infertility care in the Northeast.
The newly launched facility will offer advanced IUI procedures using modern technology and trained specialists. IUI, which involves sperm washing and insemination, is often considered a first-line fertility treatment before moving to more complex procedures like in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
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Highlighting affordability, Dr. Belho said that the cost of IUI has been reduced from around INR 20,000 to below INR 10,000 per cycle. IVF procedures, she added, will start at approximately INR 1.3 lakh, compared to INR 3–5 lakh charged in many centres outside the state.
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She further informed that the hospital has approached the state government to include IUI and IVF treatments under Ayushman Bharat or the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), proposing coverage for up to three IUI cycles and two IVF cycles.
However, she added that discussions are ongoing and no decision has been finalised yet.
Nova IVF Fertility Guwahati Chief Consultant Dr. Mujibur Rahman highlighted the growing prevalence of infertility, stating that nearly one in six couples struggle to conceive after one year of marriage. He pointed out that about 50% of infertility cases are linked to male factors, attributing the rise to lifestyle changes, smoking, substance abuse and delayed marriages.
According to him, the new facility will eliminate multiple barriers faced by patients in Nagaland, including travel, cost and language challenges.
Rahman explained that the standard protocol involves two to three IUI cycles for patients below 35 years of age, while those above 35 are usually advised one cycle before considering IVF, in order to avoid delays.
He added that initial stages of IVF treatment, including stimulation, will soon be conducted in Dimapur, significantly reducing the time patients need to stay in Guwahati. “Earlier, patients had to stay for two to three months. With this system, the stay can be reduced to about seven to eight days for ovum pick-up,” he said.
Addressing common concerns, Rahman stressed that modern IVF procedures are safe and largely painless. He dismissed myths about children born through assisted reproductive techniques being unhealthy, stating that there is no increased risk of birth defects compared to natural conception.
He also clarified that gender selection is strictly prohibited under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. “All procedures are monitored, and patients are required to sign consent forms agreeing not to request gender selection,” he said.
Rahman further shared that the initiative aims to provide transparent and cost-effective treatment options, particularly for patients who cannot afford high medical expenses. He added that eligible state government employees can receive partial reimbursement for fertility treatments upon submission of proper documentation.
The Nova IVF team also indicated that while the centre will remain centralised in Dimapur, it plans to collaborate with gynaecologists and healthcare providers across Nagaland, allowing them to refer patients locally instead of sending them to distant cities.