Minister for Health announces the commencement of publicly-funded AHR treatment
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 25 September 2023
- Last updated on: 26 September 2023
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that from today, patients are now being referred through Regional Fertility Hubs for publicly-funded AHR (assisted human reproduction) treatment.
Eligible patients will be entitled to one full cycle of IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment, provided in a Health Service Executive (HSE)-approved private clinic of their choice. For certain cohorts of patients, up to three episodes of IUI (intrauterine insemination) can be made available.
The commencement fulfils the Programme for Government commitment to provide a publicly-funded model of care for fertility treatment.
It is underpinned by significant investment of €31 million in Budget 2022 and over €69 million in Budget 2023 in funding for women’s health services, including in relation to the network of six Regional Fertility Hubs.
Patients referred by their GP to these Hubs, whose fertility issues cannot be managed at a low level of intervention, are now being referred for AHR treatment in private clinics.
Minister Donnelly said:
"Today marks a very important step on our journey to fully publicly-funded AHR treatment and represents a major development in the provision of women’s health services in this state.
"I appreciate the challenges faced by people who wish to start a family but are unable to do so without clinical assistance.
"Cost should not be a barrier to accessing clinical intervention, so I’m very pleased that from today, publicly-funded AHR treatment will give thousands of people an opportunity fulfil their hopes of becoming parents."
Publicly-funded, privately-provided AHR treatment is an interim measure along the path to the ultimate objective of Government, which is a complete publicly-provided fertility service. In this regard, the first public National AHR Centre is scheduled to open next year.
The provision of services is being commenced on a structured and phased basis and does not currently include treatments involving the use of donated gametes (sperm and eggs) for heterosexual or same-sex couples or single female patients.
This treatment will be made available as soon as possible once regulatory and clinical issues are addressed in the forthcoming Assisted Human Reproduction Bill.
Minister Donnelly said:
"We have come a long way in a very short space of time in respect of publicly-funded fertility services in Ireland, and I’m committed to building on this progress to provide an equitable fully-funded service that supports the healthcare needs of people who face difficulties in creating a family.
"Work is ongoing on the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill which will improve access to AHR treatments and embed safe and appropriate clinical practice.
"We are also working towards another significant milestone next year with the launch of the first public National AHR Centre."
Notes
The HSE advises people experiencing fertility issues to present to their GP as the first step. If further treatment is required, they may be referred to their local Regional Fertility Hub, which provides a range of treatments and interventions for both males and females.
The fertility hubs are located at:
- National Maternity Hospital, Dublin
- Rotunda Hospital, Dublin
- Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin
- Galway University Hospital
- Cork University Maternity Hospital
- Nenagh General Hospital as part of Limerick University Maternity Hospital
Eligible patients identified as suitable for AHR treatment can choose to be treated in one of eight HSE-approved clinics:
- Beacon Care Fertility: Dublin. Satellite clinics in Limerick and Louth
- First IVF: Kildare. Satellite clinics in Cork, Galway and Kerry
- Merrion Fertility Clinic: Dublin
- ReproMed Dublin: Dublin. Satellite clinic in Louth
- ReproMed Galway: Galway
- Sims IVF: Cork & Dublin. Satellite clinics in Carlow, Limerick and Louth
- Thérapie Fertility: Dublin. Satellite clinics in Limerick and Louth
- Waterstone Clinic: Cork. Satellite clinics in Kildare and Waterford
Publicly-funded AHR is not means tested, and providing details about your income will not be required to avail of the service.
More details on public fertility services, including information on the new publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative, are available on the HSE’s fertility treatment website.