Childless couples are days away from hearing whether they will get a second chance at conceiving with publicly funded in-vitro fertilisation.
Fertility clinic representatives met three key district health boards last week to discuss funds to provide a second cycle of IVF.
Fertility Associates spokesman John Peek said most issues
had now been resolved and clinics looked forward to delivering the service to eligible patients soon.
They would start reviewing files this week and planned to contact couples as soon as possible to let them know whether they qualified.
In July, Health Minister Annette King announced that from October 1 the Government would fund a second IVF cycle for couples who did not have a child after one cycle. But a few months later she said only those who had their first IVF treatment after July 1 last year would be eligible.
A Health Ministry review of this backdating policy, sparked by outrage from those affected, decided the programme could stretch back past July 2003, depending on available funding. It now seems unlikely this will happen.
At present, only one IVF cycle is state-funded. Those who pay for treatment themselves face costs of $7000 to $9000.
- NZPA
