State Funded IVF in Ireland

State Funded IVF in Ireland

“The ability to conceive a child naturally is a normal human expectation and a diagnosis of infertility can be a source of emotional distress, physical discomfort and financial hardship,”  said Health Minister Leo Varadkar.

The Government’s decision to have State funded IVF in Ireland to fund infertility treatment will relieve some of the pressure on women who already face a hugely stressful and emotional journey, a leading support group has claimed.  Currently, the treatments are only available privately from clinics at a cost of around €4,000 to €4,500 per course, pushing them out of the reach of many couples.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed his intention to provide State funded IVF in Ireland for assisted reproductive treatment in conjunction with the planned introduction of legislation saying fertility treatments should be funded in such a way “that not only maximises efficiency but which ensures equity of access as well”.

The aim is to provide public funding for assisted human reproductive (AHR) treatment in conjunction with the introduction of legislation in this area.  AHR encompasses in vitro fertilisation (IVF), pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, intra-uterine insemination, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection and gamete donation. Currently, there are a number of fertility clinics operating in Ireland offering a broad range of AHR services, which remains largely unregulated.  The Department of Health is carrying out a review of how State funded IVF fertility treatments are funded in other countries – such as by the NHS in Britain – meaning that a scheme to relieve the financial burden attached to securing these treatments could be in place next year.

Dr Cathy Allen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Merrion Fertility clinic at the National Maternity Hospital welcomed the news. She said about one in six couples will need help. “They will experience some sort of a delay in conceiving when they want to,” she said. “For many of them a visit to their primary care physician GP can be extremely helpful, sometimes its a lifestyle adjustment that needs to be done. For people who are referred on for more expert help to secondary level fertility clinics in hospital or tertiary level assisted reproductive medicine units, about half of those will be referred on for in vitro fertilisation.”

Click here to read more in the Irish Examiner.