history of ivf in nepal

Although IVF has been around the world for a long time, it is relatively recent in Nepal. That said, despite being a relatively new field in Nepal, IVF has gained popularity over the past few years. This rise in popularity is for some very good reasons as well. In vitro fertilization, or IVF for short, is a process where the egg is fertilized outside the body. Because of this process, IVF bypasses many restrictions that you may face in natural insemination. Definitions and benefits aside, if you are here, then you must be interested in its history in Nepal. Well, there is good news for you; we are here to provide you with just that. 

 

In this blog, we provide you with a general overview of the history of IVF in Nepal from its inception to its current circumstances. 

The history of IVF in Nepal can be traced back to the early 2000s when the first IVF procedure was performed successfully. Before this time period, Nepalese couples struggling with infertility had to travel abroad for IVF and other forms of fertility treatment. 

 

The history of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Nepal dates back to July 2004, twenty-six years after the birth of the world’s first “test tube baby,” Louise Brown, in England. During this time, Om Hospital & Research Centre in Nepal established its first IVF facility, marking a significant milestone in reproductive medicine within the country. 

 

As per Aspire.org, Om Mani Tamang was the first IVF baby in Nepal, born as a baby of father Rajendra Tamang and mother Sandhya Tamang. The dedicated IVF team included Dr. Bhola Rijal, Dr. Sabina Shrestha, Dr.Supatra Koirala, Dr. Sanu Maiya Shrestha, and Dr. Hari Kishor Shrestha, guided by the expertise of Dr Jaideep Malhotra and Dr Narendra Malhotra. This achievement brought further advancements in assisted reproductive technologies in Nepal. 

After the initial success associated with the introduction of IVF, the scope of this service continued to expand. That said, the growth of IVF related services was still slow. The slow growth is further backed up by the fact that Nepal only had five centers up until 2015 AD. That said, as the economy of Nepal expanded, many infertile couples were able to afford assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization. Because of this, the number of clinics offering IVF services continued to rise. 

 

At the time of this writing, there are twelve IVF centers in Nepal of which seven are in Kathmandu. Furthermore, according to Aspire, roughly 30 IVF clinics have gained recognition from the Ministry of Health. That said, you do have to note that there are no specific ART guidelines in Nepal. 

 

The good news here is that recently, the government formed a committee to progress toward establishing guidelines. This society was successfully formed in 2018 with eleven founder members. Once founded, the society was led by the inaugural President, Dr Bhola Rijal. Since its establishment, educational programs have been established. Educational programs have been established, fostering knowledge exchange among ART specialists, obstetricians, and gynecologists. Scientific meetings continue to explore cutting-edge topics, such as genomics in prenatal testing and early diagnosis of congenital anomalies.

After the establishment of the society, there has been progress in both the technology used in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization. As per the recent update, a scientific meeting was held in Jhamsikhel on 6th August 2022. This meeting addressed the topic of how Genomics is Changing the Practice of Prenatal testing NIPT and the Road Ahead. The speaker for this meeting was senior research scientist Dr Nilanju Sarmah, with delegates including ART specialists, obstetricians and gynecologists.

Despite the progress, access to affordable IVF remains a challenge. This is especially so for rural and low-income populations. There is also a need for better regulation and quality control in the fast-growing infertility treatment industry in Nepal.

 

Experts believe Nepal has significant potential to become a hub for fertility tourism in South Asia, given that the government can address infrastructural, regulatory and cost barriers. advances in IVF technology and expansion of services across Nepal are expected in the coming years.

 

This is further supported by the rise of IVF treatment centers like Hardik IVF and Fertility Center. Centers like Hardik are continuously working to provide Nepalese citizens with some of the best IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services in Nepal. 

The history of IVF in Nepal is a rather short one. However, despite recent history, there has been significant progress regarding IVF. From its inception in 2004 to its current state, Nepal has gone through a lot in the past 20 years in the field of IVF. In this blog, we went through a brief history of IVF in Nepal. We hope you found this insightful. If you want further insights into the world of IVF, do check out some of our other blogs. And, if you want the best IVF service in Nepal, feel free to visit us at Hardik IVF and Fertility Center. Thank you for reading till the end. 

The first successful IVF procedure in Nepal was performed in the early 2000s, with the first IVF baby being born in July 2004 at the Om Hospital & Research Centre.

According to the information provided, the first IVF baby born in Nepal was named Om Mani Tamang, the child of father Rajendra Tamang and mother Sandhya Tamang.

Nepal only had five IVF centers up until 2015.

The main challenges mentioned are the lack of affordability and accessibility of IVF, especially for rural and low-income populations, as well as the need for better regulation and quality control in the fast-growing IVF industry.

Experts believe Nepal has significant potential to become a hub for fertility tourism in South Asia, provided the government can address the infrastructure, regulatory, and cost barriers. Continued advancements in IVF technology and expansion of services across Nepal are expected in the coming years.

The history of IVF in Nepal is a relatively short one, with the first successful IVF procedure being performed in the early 2000s. Despite recent history, there has been significant progress in the field, with the number of IVF centers growing and the government taking steps to regulate the industry. However, challenges remain in terms of affordability and accessibility, especially for rural and low-income populations.