Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced that over 1,000 couples have been referred for publicly funded Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) treatment.
These treatments include IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment and IUI (intrauterine insemination).
Each month, around 125 couples are being referred through the HSE’s Regional Fertility Hubs for publicly funded AHR treatment which is provided in approved private clinics.
The Minister for Health has also revealed the wonderful news that the first baby has been born under the public IVF scheme.
Speaking about the news, Donnelly explained, “It's less than 11 months since the introduction of publicly funded AHR treatment in Ireland and we have now reached a very important milestone with more than 1,000 referrals to private clinics”.
“For so many couples who face the very difficult emotional and physical challenges infertility issues present, publicly funded treatment has given them hope of becoming parents”.
The Minister continued, “We are already aware of the first live births resulting from publicly funded AHR treatment, and I would like to warmly congratulate those parents. I am committed to expanding AHR provision. As this service develops, we expect to see around 1,500 referrals over the course of a full year”.
“We’re also seeing thousands of other patients being successfully treated at our network of Regional Fertility Hubs, ensuring that that treatment is provided at the lowest level of intervention necessary.
Donnelly then revealed that the government is ‘committed’ to providing a fully publicly provided fertility service. The first public National AHR Centre is scheduled to open in Cork in 2025.
It has also been confirmed that thousands of other patients have had their fertility-related issues resolved through the six Regional Fertility Hubs in line with the Model of Care for Fertility.
These hubs are located in National Maternity Hospital in Dublin, Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin, Galway University Hospital, Cork University Maternity Hospital and Nenagh General Hospital as part of Limerick University Maternity Hospital.