According to statistics, the number of infertile couples is steadily increasing worldwide and in Ukraine. To improve access to reproductive health restoration services, which are one of the main ways to achieve high chances of parenthood, a new package—”Infertility Treatment through Assisted Reproductive Technologies (In Vitro Fertilization)”—has been added to the Medical Guarantee Program in 2024. This step is a response from the government to the complex demographic situation and the rising number of women and men diagnosed with infertility.
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Since the beginning of the year, 977 Ukrainian women have utilized the free medical service under the “Infertility Treatment through Assisted Reproductive Technologies” package. According to the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHСU), 368 women became pregnant after receiving these services.
Currently, 18 medical facilities in the country, including 13 private clinics, 3 municipal hospitals, and 2 state hospitals, have signed contracts with the NHСU. Patients can receive infertility treatment services for free at any contracted facility, regardless of their place of residence. A complete list of such facilities is available on the NHСU website.
In August of this year, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to increase the tariff for infertility treatment. Now, for one complete cycle of artificial insemination, the NHСU will pay UAH 84,826, significantly higher than the previous tariff of UAH 60,324.
Additionally, the list of necessary services for treatment has been expanded to include:
- Cryopreservation services for gametes (oocytes, eggs, embryos);
- Cryostorage of gametes (oocytes, eggs, embryos);
- Pre-implantation genetic screening;
- 25 new items of medications necessary for infertility treatment.
The age of the patient at the start of the cycle must not exceed 40 years. Under the “Infertility Treatment through Assisted Reproductive Technologies” package, a woman can receive one full cycle free of charge per year. In the event of pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child, subsequent cycles of assisted reproductive technologies are not covered. If the first ART cycle does not yield the desired results, the cycle (full or partial) can be repeated within a year.
What is Needed to Access the Service?
To access the service, the following is required:
- An electronic referral from a medical facility where a special multidisciplinary consultative board has been established to direct adults for infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technologies under the Medical Guarantee Program.
- A confirmed diagnosis of “Female Infertility” or “Male Infertility.”
- A request for infertility treatment at a medical facility that provides these services under a contract with the NHСU.
Treatment can be provided either on an outpatient basis or in a day or regular hospital setting, depending on the doctor’s orders.
These initiatives reflect the increasing attention of the state to infertility issues and the desire to improve the quality of medical services for families dreaming of children.
