The Ministry for Health is launching a public consultation meeting about the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) services which will be eventually given at Mater Dei Hospital. The meeting will be held this coming Thursday, the 24th of October 2013 at the Central Auditorium – Mater Dei Hospital at 18.30hrs.

The general public, NGOs and all interested are being invited to attend.

IVF will be considered as part of the National Health Service Package and couples will soon start to be screened as regards eligibility and thus subsequently initiate the clinical phases of IVF.

Couples will be selected as articulated in the Embryo Protection Act. To be clinically eligible for this service, a couple has to be referred to the Fertility Assisted Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH) by their family doctor or specialist, after conforming to the necessary criteria.

Assisted reproductive services namely IVF/ICSI will be offered as a process with the following three Phases:

1. Clinical assessment of the couple, hormonal stimulation and induction of ovulation of the female prospective parent.

2. Oocyte retrieval, production of sperm sample, sperm preparation and surgical extraction of sperm as clinically indicated were necessary. IVF procedure itself, including embryo culture, assisted hatching and the transfer back of fertilised eggs.

3. Obstetric follow up till birth.

All the phases will be done at MDH thus maximising Continuity of Care by health care professionals; clients comfort and convenience whilst at the same time maximising the assets that have already been invested in the Maltese island’s main public hospital, including the necessary equipped theatre, whilst also saving on further expenditure.

This new service to be launched at MDH in the form of PPP will give an additional option to couples seeking this specialised service, as couples can now opt for the public in addition to the private sector.

All the above will be in conformity with the Embryo Protection Act and with the Protocol Code of Practice of the Embryo Protection Authority and also the Superintendent of Public Health to ensure that high standards are maintained. Furthermore, Infertility Counselling Services will also be offered in the whole process.

The main clinical justification for the immediacy of the MFH commitment to offer assisted reproductive services as part of the National Health Service (NHS) Package of care, arises from nature’s female biological fertility window, constraining the immediacy of this intervention especially as regards to those couples who have been waiting for the longest time, and who are eligible to undergo the procedures.

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