Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for giving me, on behalf of the Minister for Health, the opportunity to inform the House of the progress made to date regarding the provision of fertility-related treatment through the public health system.

As the Senator will be aware, a commitment to introduce a model of care for infertility is in the programme for Government. The model of care was developed by officials in the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE's national women and infants health programme and approved by the Government. It will ensure that infertility issues affecting both men and women will be addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology.

The model of care comprises three stages, starting in primary care - GPs - and extending into secondary care, that being, regional fertility hubs, and then, where necessary tertiary care, for example, IVF and other advanced AHR treatments, with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.

Phase 1 of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment at secondary care level of regional fertility hubs in maternity networks to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with infertility issues without the need to undergo invasive IVF or other advanced AHR treatments. Utilising funding of approximately €63 million in total, five regional fertility hubs have been established and are operational. The sixth and final hub is due to open before the end of this year. The completion of phase 1 of the roll-out of the model of care will therefore result in fully operational regional fertility hubs in each of the six current hospital groups across the country.

Phase 2 of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system. Substantial planning, development and policy work has been required in respect of this phase. At this juncture, the design and scope of this aspect of the model of care have not been finalised, as detailed consideration of a range of issues, including service and treatment design, eligibility and access criteria, and associated resource implications needs to be completed. This work will also need to be informed by the final Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022, the progress of that Bill, which has passed Second Stage in the Dáil, and associated regulations that will be developed following the enactment of the legislation. Departmental officials are continuing their engagement with the HSE on the programmes of work required to advance consideration of the issues arising for commencing phase 2.

Overall, the underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments while embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.