The Ministry for Health is to hold a public consultation meeting about the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) services which will be eventually given at Mater Dei Hospital.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, October24 at the Central Auditorium – Mater Dei Hospital at 6.30 p.m. It is open to everyone.

The ministry explained that IVF will be considered as part of the National Health Service Package and couples will soon start to be screened as regards eligibility and thus subsequently initiate the clinical phases of IVF.

To be clinically eligible for this service, a couple has to be referred to the Fertility Assisted Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH) by their family doctor or specialist, after conforming to the necessary criteria.

Assisted reproductive services namely IVF/ICSI will be offered as a process with the following three Phases:

Clinical assessment of the couple, hormonal stimulation and induction of ovulation of the female prospective parent.Oocyte retrieval, production of sperm sample, sperm preparation and surgical extraction of sperm as clinically indicated were necessary. IVF procedure itself, including embryo culture, assisted hatching and the transfer back of fertilised eggs.Obstetric follow up till birth.

All the phases will be done at MDH thus maximising Continuity of Care by health care professionals; clients comfort and convenience whilst at the same time maximising the assets that have already been invested in the Maltese island’s main public hospital, including the necessary equipped theatre, whilst also saving on further expenditure.

This new service to be launched at MDH in the form of PPP will give an additional option to couples seeking this specialised service, as couples can now opt for the public in addition to the private sector.