Expanding IVF Support In Malta: Medication Refund Scheme To More Prospective Parents
The refund on IVF medications has been extended to prospective parents undergoing IVF in Malta as well as to a prospective parent who has undergone IUI, IVF, or embryo transfer in private clinics since 1st January 2023. This was announced by the Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela.
The sector of Medically Assisted Procreation, known as IVF, has been regulated by the Embryo Protection Authority since 2013. It was explained that from then until now, a total of 601 babies have been born, and currently, there are also 50 mothers who are expecting to give birth to another 55 babies.
Minister Abela explained how the government, aware of the sacrifices prospective parents undergoing IVF make, has been offering free services from Mater Dei Hospital since 2015. These services continued to expand with amendments in the law that came into effect in 2018 and 2022.
The Minister said that by the end of March 2024, the Embryo Protection Authority (EPA) approved over one million and twenty-eight thousand euros (€1,028,543.54), which were refunded to the prospective parents as reimbursement for the medications they had spent.
Minister Abela announced that after discussion with the main regulator, the EPA, this reimbursement will now also be extended to prospective parents who will undergo IVF at licensed centres in Malta and not just at Mater Dei.
Every prospective parent who has undergone IUI, IVF, or embryo transfer at private clinics since 1st January 2023, will also be entitled to this reimbursement.
He explained how this refund will benefit a total of 285 prospective parents who have undergone 56 IUI, 131 embryo transfers, and 98 IVF procedures since January last year, where the government will be reimbursing a total of about €250,000. These will be added to the 634 prospective parents who have already benefited from the medicine refund for the services offered at Mater Dei since 1st January, 2022.
“This is a testament to the investment the Government is making. We are committed to continuing to improve IVF services and to be a support and assistance to Maltese and Gozitan families,” Minister Abela concluded.
Applications as well as the original receipts for the medications must be submitted to the licensed centres and sent to the Embryo Protection Authority for the refund to be processed.
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