Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

912. To ask the Minister for Health the publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1047/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following on from my response to the Deputy’s similar question, number 147 of November 3rd last, funding of €2m was provided to the HSE to commence Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care in 2020. This was utilised specifically in respect of the development of the first four Regional Fertility Hubs – namely, at Cork Maternity University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.

While three of the first four regional hubs are based in Dublin, their total catchment area relates to that of the four corresponding regional health areas of the country.

Additional funding of just over €1m is being made available to enable the continuation and completion of Phase One of the roll-out in 2021, including through the setting-up of the final two Regional Fertility Hubs, to be located in Galway and Limerick.  

The roll-out of Phase One has been slowed due to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic by the health service broadly and its impact upon the provision of elective health services, including fertility services.

Phase Two of the roll-out will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country and the AHR legislation commenced. While it is not possible at this juncture to give a definitive timeline for the completion of the roll-out, the introduction of a publicly-funded model of care for fertility treatment is a Programme for Government commitment. It is intended that, in line with available resources, this will be fully implemented on a phased basis over the course of the coming years.

Overall, the implementation of the model of care will help to ensure the provision of safe, effective and accessible infertility services at all levels of the public health system as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology.

It should be noted that while AHR treatment is not currently funded by the Irish public health service, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Arrangements administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Arrangements must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and authorised for supply to the client’s nominated community pharmacy by the High Tech Hub managed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the client’s eligibility, i.e., Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme. Given the costs associated with certain fertility medicines, I am aware that these schemes can have a material impact on the total cost of AHR treatment for individuals who avail of them. 

In addition, there is other support available in that patients who access AHR treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme.