Aggregated News
After a week of uncertainty and some confusion, the Ontario Ministry of Health finally announced its policy on in-vitro fertilization (IVF) funding – but the details remain minimal.
What we know for certain so far, and what has been met with some fanfare, is that the province will provide funding for one cycle of IVF for every Ontarian who wants it, except for those over the age of 42. Specifically, the policy defines one cycle as one egg retrieval, which may yield multiple eggs and result in multiple embryos. The province will cover the costs of implanting these additional embryos one-by-one.
There’s much to commend in the new policy. Most importantly it covers all forms of infertility, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation or family status. The problem lies in what has not yet been addressed by the province – critical issues that surround both publicly and privately funded IVF – that demand attention.
Notably, the policy is silent regarding the collection, use and disclosure of information regarding the use of IVF in Ontario. There are two issues...