Health Bureau (SSM) Deputy Director Kuok Cheong U said yesterday that the government has launched a subsidy scheme for assisted reproductive technology (ART) services to help couples who have difficulties in procreation, which will open for applications from Sunday, according to an SSM statement yesterday.
Dr Kuok made the remarks in a briefing session introducing the scheme yesterday, adding that applicants must be married couples or those in a domestic partnership in Macau, the statement said.
ART services will be provided by the Islands Healthcare Complex – Macao Medical Centre of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), (Macao Union Hospital), the statement said, adding that applicants can apply at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, and successful applicants will be provided with prior clinical assessment to ensure that they meet the conditions and referral criteria for ART.
Macao Union Hospital obstetrician and gynaecologist Ku Sio Kuan underlined that the government’s scheme does not include third-generation technologies but the first two generations, as the first-generation In Vitro Fertilisation - Embryo Transfer (IVF) technology mainly targets female infertility, mainly ovulation dysfunction, fallopian tube obstruction, or uterine displacement, which accounts for about two-thirds of all infertile couples, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the second generation of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is mainly for men with sperm problems, accounting for about one-third of the infertile patients, Ku said, adding that third-generation technology is mainly used from the perspective of eugenics and applicable to patients with abnormal genetic diseases, the statement said.
However, Dr Ku said the scheme would not be applicable to patients with recurrent miscarriages directly related to genetic diseases and which require prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling, according to local media reports.
Macao Union Hospital Deputy Director Lei Wai Seng said at yesterday’s briefing session that eligible applicants can be exempted from the fee twice, and he also underlined that the causes of infertility are many, such as if the applicant’s own underlying disease causes infertility, the applicant needs to lose weight, get his or her diabetes under control, as otherwise the costs of treatment of other chronic diseases are not covered by the fee waiver, according to local media reports about the briefing.
Representatives of the Women’s General Association of Macau (commonly known as Fu Luen, its name in Cantonese) attending the session expressed concern about the applicability of the scheme for the second child.
Dr Lei said the purpose of the scheme was to encourage childbirth, and that women who already have given birth to children can still apply for the scheme, and that the government’s aim was for the public to “have one more child if they can”.
Dr Kuok also said he believed that there will be no more than 100 applicants per year, adding that right now there are about 200 women receiving treatment at the infertility clinic of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, according to local media reports.
Applications can be submitted through the Health Bureau’s designated website at https://www.ssm.gov.mo/Artform. For enquiries, one can call 8390 8041 during office hours.
Health Bureau (SSM) Deputy Director Kuok Cheong U addresses a briefing session about the government’s subsidy scheme for assisted reproductive technology (ART) services yesterday. – Photo supplied by SSM
