Karnataka is planning to introduce a one-year fellowship in menopause care to train medical practitioners in addressing the physical, hormonal and mental health needs of women during perimenopause and menopause.
The programme is expected to be offered through Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and will focus on creating a specialised pool of doctors trained to provide menopause-related care. Applications are expected to open within the next three months.
The fellowship is being developed primarily for postgraduate doctors, particularly those specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. However, the final list of eligible medical disciplines will be decided by an expert committee, allowing the programme to take a multidisciplinary approach.
RGUHS is expected to work with the committee to develop the curriculum and establish minimum standards for institutions that want to offer the fellowship. Large gynaecology centres, medical colleges and multispecialty hospitals in both the public and private sectors are likely to be considered for the programme.
The initiative is aimed at addressing a shortage of trained professionals in menopause care. Women going through menopause can experience a range of symptoms, including fatigue, hot flashes, hormonal changes, mood-related challenges and post-menopausal health complications. Yet specialised menopause care remains limited across India.
The proposed fellowship is part of Karnataka’s wider efforts to integrate menopause support into the public healthcare system. The state is also working on a women’s health policy and has launched Rututhaare, an awareness initiative focused on identifying and supporting women experiencing menopause.
The state has also proposed screening women for menopause through its Gruha Arogya programme. The planned fellowship could create a trained workforce capable of supporting women identified through such screening programmes.
The trained practitioners could eventually be deployed at taluk and district-level facilities, as well as government and private hospitals. The move could help create a dedicated talent pipeline for an area of healthcare where demand is increasing but specialised training opportunities remain limited.
