Introduction

It is another proud moment in the annals of K. L. E. Society's Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum. Various Super specialities such as Cardiothoracic surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Neuro-Surgery, Urology, Nephrology, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have been established. The K. L. E. Society has developed these specialities to serve the people of this part of the country. Another important field which required attention was Infertility. There are no good Centres with State-of-the Art facilities in Northern Karnataka, South Maharashtra and Goa. This has led to inconvenience to the couples who are infertile. Therefore, it was another long cherished desire to establish the "Assisted Reproduction Centre" at K. L. E. Society's Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum, which has come true. This was only possible because of our dynamic Chairman Shri. Prabhakar Kore and ever supportive Medical Director Dr. (Col.) A. K. Singh. Our Centre was inaugurated on 22nd April 2000, by Hon. Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr. A. B. Malakareddy in the august presence of her Excellency Ramadevi, Governor of Karnataka.

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The team is lead by Dr. B. R. Desai as programme Director who heads the Department of Obst. & Gynaecology, J. N. Medical College and K. L. E. 's Hospital & MRC, Belgaum. Dr. Desai has considerable experience in the management of infertility and has been trained at various centres in India and abroad. Dr. Joshua Peter is the Consultant for Assisted Reproduction Technology. He is a Reproductive Biologist & Cytogeneticist by qualification and has immense experience in Assisted Reproductive Technology. He has been trained by world renowned Scientists like Prof. R. Yanagimachi (University of Hawai, U.S.A.), Dr. Alan DeCherney (Yale University, USA) and Prof. Van Steirteghem (University of Brussels, Belgium). He has been associated with several Centres all over South India and is credited with several Test-tube babies. The team also comprises of other faculty members who are experienced Consultants in this field.

This Centre will serve the Couples with facilities such as Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), Invitro Fertilization (IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and Assisted hatching, cryo preservation of embryos and sperm apart from simple counselling (which may by itself help in conception).

The Perinatal centre at K. L. .E. 's Hospital & Medical Research Centre (in collaboration with university of Illinois, Chicago, USA), has one of the best Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) facility in the country. This will be an added advantage to newborns, born after successful treatment of Infertility.

The centre also plans to have infrastructure for Genetic diagnosis by DNA analysis and Karyotyping by Computerized Image Analysis System which will be on par with the best Centres in the world. Prenatal diagnosis will be available to help couples who have a history of inherited disease in the family. Cytogenetic  anomalies with numerical & structural aberrations can be karyotyped. Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH) Technique will be applied soon for prenatal diagnosis. Recurrent foetal loss in women are known to have either Genetic / Chromosomal abnormality, who need to be diagnosed prior to treatment. Disorders like Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Cystic Fibrosis (CF) etc., will be diagnosed by DNA analysis. Genetic counselling services will be available.