NIAC Welcomes Call For Increased Funding For Infertility Treatment, UK

Main Category: Fertility
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 25 Jul 2007 - 15:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC) has welcomed the publication today of a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infertility, which highlights the need for greater funding for infertility treatment on the NHS.

The report, Infertility Treatment in the UK: Taking the Next Steps, calls for continued pressure for implementation of the NICE clinical guideline on fertility that recommended, as part of a full range of treatment, the provision of three cycles of IVF on the NHS for patients meeting agreed clinical criteria.

It also stresses the importance of providing a full cycle of IVF, including the transfer of both fresh and frozen embryos. This is key given the likely introduction of single embryo transfer (SET) for appropriate patients, as the replacement of frozen embryos would allow them a further chance of conceiving if the single, fresh embryo attempt failed.

Commenting on the report, the Chair of NIAC, Clare Brown, said, "We support the All Party Group's findings, which are timely given the current debate around a move towards SET. We believe SET is an important step towards reducing the health risks associated with multiple births from IVF but it must be stressed that in introducing this, patients should have access to three full cycles of treatment, including the freezing, storage and transfer of frozen embryos.

She went on to say, "There is still significant variation in the level of treatment funded across the country, despite the publication of the NICE guideline over three years ago, and the statement by former Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon Dr John Reid MP, that PCTs should provide at least one full cycle of IVF by April 2005. Greater progress must be made towards implementing the guideline in full if patients are to receive the treatment they need."

NIAC campaigns for equal access for those with an established clinical need to a full range of services for the investigation and treatment of infertility on the NHS. It is funded through equal grants from Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Organon Laboratories Ltd, and Merck Serono Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Its activities are directed by the NIAC Committee, on which non-commercial interests enjoy a significant majority. For further information, please visit: http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/niac.php or click on the NIAC section on the front page of the Infertility Network UK website http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com.