One year from its appointment the Embryo Protection Authority has presented its Annual Report to Mr Chris Fearne, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

The report includes, for the first time all statistics related to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) being held in Malta both in the Public and Private Hospitals/Clinics.

The Authority reported that since March 2013 to March 2014, 170 couples underwent IVF treatment in Malta. Out of these 149 were Maltese Residents while 21 were Foreign Residents, all foreign residents underwent their IVF in the private sector. Out of the 170 couples – 45 couples became pregnant with 42 being pregnant with singletons and 3 being pregnant with a multiple twin pregnancy.

The Authority also reported that since its Appointment in May 2013, the EPA received 142 requests for IVF /ICSI procedures both in private and public Sectors, out of these it approved 138 and declined 4 requests (the declined requested all came from the private sector).

The Authority reported that reason for decline of these applications was that 3 women were over the maximum age Limit allowed by the EPA Protocol while one woman was under the minimum age limit allowed by the EPA Protocol.

One of the Powers and functions of the EPA Authority is to approve or decline requests for the attempt of fertilisation of three oocytes (female eggs) instead of two oocytes. The Authority approved 38 applications out of the 52 received from clinics to attempt to fertilise three oocytes.

These decisions were taken together with representatives from the Paediatrics Association and the Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Association as per stipulated in the Embryo Protection Act.

The Authority also reported that as from July 2013 the private sector clinics started gamete cryopreservation (freezing) both oocytes and sperm freezing are being held. Between July 2013 and March 2014, 86 couples have made use of this service.

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