Discussions with providers of fertility treatments, as well as other relevant stakeholders, need to begin urgently following the government’s announcement that IVF treatment is to be publicly funded from next year, a national support charity has said.

The announcement as part of Budget 2023 was widely welcomed by the National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG), particularly as Ireland lags behind most other European countries in this area.

It noted that in December 2021, Fertility Europe, in conjunction with the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive rights, developed the ‘European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies'. Ireland was rated as ‘exceptionally poor’, coming 40^th out of 43 countries.

The HSE estimates that around one in six heterosexual couples in Ireland may experience infertility. NISIG has been campaigning for publicly funded fertility treatment since it was established in 1996. Now that the announcement has been made, it has called on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, and the Department of Health to begin the process of meeting with stakeholders immediately, as many unanswered questions remain.

“Many people who are currently undergoing treatment or saving hard for fertility treatment, which is hugely costly, will have heard this news and are now very anxious to know what it means for them. Minister Donnelly said that there would be collaboration with the industry and stakeholders around this announcement and this must begin immediately,” commented NISIG chairperson, Caitríona Fitzpatrick.

She said that as there are currently no public services around IVF treatment, it needs to be made clear how this proposed funding will work and who will be able to avail of it.

“We want nothing less than fully publicly funded IVF treatment available to all those who need it, delivered in September 2023. In order for that to happen we call on the Minister to get this process underway immediately. We are ready to work with the Department and HSE to help make this funding announcement a reality for everyone who needs it and give people who are going through this difficult process certainty,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.

NISIG is also calling on the government to roll out a fertility awareness campaign, which is already done in many other countries.

Referring to Ireland’s poor rating in the ‘European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies', Ms Fitzpatrick said this is “clearly unacceptable”.

“This announcement is significant in moving Ireland from the bottom of the class to more in line with our European colleagues. We need a public health system that works for those who experience issues with fertility in Ireland and in 2023, we are taking the first and very welcome step on that road,” she added.