Refunds for IVF medications extended to cover procedures done in a private clinic – Health Minister

The refund on IVF medicines has been extended for prospective parents who are going to do IVF as well as a prospective parent who did IUI, IVF or embryo transfers in private clinics as from the 1st of January 2023, Jo Etienne Abela, Minister for Health and Active Aging announced on Monday.

The sector of Medically-Assisted Procreation, known as IVF, has been regulated by the Embryo Protection Authority (EPA) since 2013 and since then a total of 601 babies have been born with 50 mothers currently waiting to give birth to 55 babies.

Abela explained that the government is aware of the sacrifices prospective parents make to attempt IVF which is why in 2015, it began to offer IVF services for free from Mater Dei Hospital. These services have continued to be expanded by amendments in the law that came into force in 2018 and 2022, he added.

As of the end of March 2024, the EPA approved over €1,028,543.54 to be paid back to the prospective parents as a refund for the expenses of the medicines they had to buy, Abela said.

The minister announced how, after a discussion with the EPA, the chief regulator, this refund will also be extended to prospective parents who were going to attempt IVF at a licensed medical centre, not only in Mater Dei. He added that all prospective parents who had attempted IUI, IVF or Embryo Transfer in private clinics since 1st January 2023 are also entitled to this refund.

By this refund, 285 prospective parents, making up 56 IUI’s, 131 Embryo Transfers and 98 IVF procedures, all since 1st January 2023, will benefit, he said. He added that this number will be added to the 634 prospective parents who already benefitted from this refund as they had received services from Mater Dei since 1st January 2022.

“This is proof of the investments Government is bringing about. We are committed to better the IVF services and to be of help and support to Maltese and Gozitan families” concluded Abela.

Applications as well as original receipts for the medicines must be submitted at licensed and sent to EPA for the refund to be processed.