[PIO] Statements by the Minister of Health on the approval by the Cabinet of Ministers of the revised Subsidy Scheme to tackle infertility

The Council of Ministers today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health to revise the existing Infertility Treatment Subsidy Scheme. The proposal includes a provision to increase the subsidy for the first IVF treatment to €3,500 instead of the current €2,500. The proposal is part of efforts to combat under-fertility.

In a statement after the Cabinet meeting, the Health Minister noted that the revision of the plan was deemed necessary in order to strengthen the effort to increase the country's population.

To make this possible, she added, the fertility rate should be increased from 1.32% to 2.2%. "An important parameter in this effort is the fact that 54% of women in Cyprus have their first child after the age of 30. This contributes to the decline in the fertility rate and is something we want to address through the plan approved by the Council of Ministers today. We expect that the plan will help many couples to have a child," Dr Kanari added.

It should be noted that for 2022, the expenditure for the existing Plan amounted to €4.5 million. With the implementation of the revised Subsidy Plan to cover the first treatment up to €3,500, the total budget of the Department of Medical and Public Health Services for this Plan is expected to reach €5.2 million.

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