King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow has launched an innovative initiative to promote inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community. Recognising the challenges faced by this minority group, KGMU will operate a dedicated outpatient department (OPD) clinic for LGBTQIA+ individuals on the last Thursday of every month.

This specialised clinic will provide judgment-free care, addressing medical needs such as psychiatric, dermatological, and gastroenterological issues. Officials also explained that there was no dedicated clinic for gender change services at the institution, causing significant inconvenience to patients. Starting now, the special clinic will feature this procedure, alongside experts, ensuring tailored, comprehensive consultation and treatment.

In Lucknow, HIV registrations have nearly doubled, rising from around 450 in 2021-22 to nearly 800 in 2023-24. To combat this, the clinic will make the TLD drug (tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir) available at KGMU’s ART Centre. This WHO-recommended medication is a single-pill regimen used to treat and prevent HIV.