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UP TO €2 million in funding for IVF and fertility treatment is set to be announced by government tomorrow.
Health Minister Simon Harris will bring a memo to Cabinet to ask the government to publicly commit to funding a model of care for infertility as part of the public health system.
While it was previously reported the fund would amount to €1 million, the fund has been doubled.
The minister will confirm €2 million will be spent on supporting access to consultation and diagnostics for both men and women experiencing fertility difficulties.
This is being described in government circles as the “first step in the roll-out of the model of care for infertility”.
Around one in six couples in Ireland may experience infertility.
However, the HSE states that 85% of couples will conceive a child naturally after one year of trying.
This figure rises to 95% after two years.
Those that do need IVF can expect to pay between €4,000 and €4,500 for one course of IVF treatment. The costs can escalate above this amount depending on what treatment is necessary and how many rounds of IVF a couple goes through.
State-funded IVF
Ireland and Lithuania remain the only two EU countries not to offer state funding for assisted reproduction even though the World Health Organisation recognises infertility as a medical condition.
Harris will tomorrow update the government on the drafting a comprehensive legislative framework for assisted human reproduction (AHR).
At the moment, advanced AHR treatment, such as IVF, is not available within the public health care system, but is accessed through the private sector.
The general scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill was approved by Cabinet two years ago.
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the scheme which covers areas such a range of practices, including sperm, egg and embryo donation, surrogacy, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis of embryos, posthumous assisted reproduction as well as embryo and stem cell research, has taken place this year.
However a timeline for the passage of the Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas is not certain.
It is not expected that eligibility grounds for the IVF funding will be agreed tomorrow.
Harris will tell Cabinet the initial focus of implementing the model of care will be placed on building up services at secondary care and hospital level, where it is estimated that 50% to 70% of patients presenting with infertility issues can be diagnosed and managed, without the need to undergo invasive IVF treatment.
Currently fertility medications are covered by the Drug Payment Scheme or on medical cards. Tax relief for those paying for private IVF treatment is also available.
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Great news, for someone who might have to go through ivf to conceive it’s great to hear that there will b funding for it. It may not b an illness but not being able to conceive or carry a baby full term has a massive effect on someone’s mental health..
@Claire bear: Best of luck on your journey x
@Claire bear: I’d suggest people look into the Stock Insemination Kit.
Available up north and in the UK for about 70 to 100 pounds.
They have good reviews, and have saved us a few grand
@mike: *Stork insemination kit , not stock
@Claire bear: money spent well for a change.
After we went through 2 rounds of IVF, it certainly costs alot more than what is indicated in this article. However after two amazing little people coming in our lives, it is worth every cent without a doubt.
It is such a taboo subject too but alot more common then you think!
@SkylineSi: this made me smile. Delighted for yous. Happy Xmas.
@SkylineSi: is it really that taboo though these days? Everyone seems to be talking about it.
@Decko Kelly: thank you. You too
@Sean: yes very much so. We are the lucky ones who could afford it privately but alot simply can’t. People can be ashamed to admit that they need help in this space. It such a physical, mental and emotional rollercoaster that people don’t want to talk about it because of the reception they may receive.
What would be of more use is to make infertility investigation/treatment separate from the maternity hospitals and available in general hospitals for both men & women. Asking them to attend a clinic which means that they have to walk by lots of happily pregnant couples in order to get any kind of investigation/treatment is beyond cruel.
A rare bit of good news coming from Simon Harris.
Amazing news
So not going to help those (initially) who need full ivf, rather it will deal with underlying issues for 50-70% of people dealing with infertility. Surely helping those with the biggest burden first would be better?
Great news!
What a load of wank. Great news.
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