Manitoba Government support for Couples experiencing Infertility

· Involuntary infertility affects up to one in six couples in Manitoba. A diagnosis is a life crisis for couples who want to raise a child.

· This challenging journey is deepened because medical treatments are not covered under Medicare, and the drugs required for infertility treatment were de-listed from Pharmacare by the previous provincial government, and have not since been reinstated.

· Many families are interested in adoption, however there are a limited number of children available, the waiting lists are long and the process expensive.

· As part of the continuum of care philosophy Manitoba Health to meet the needs of diverse populations, those experiencing infertility need to be served. Notably Manitoba supports women’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy, it is an equity issue to support women wanting to have a child.

· Manitoba couples experiencing infertility are tax payers who contribute to the tax base in our province. Manitobans experiencing infertility want to raise children in Manitoba. Supporting couples experiencing infertility will help increase the Manitoba population.

· Presently in Manitoba there is unequal access to infertility – a two-tiered system between those can afford treatments, and those who cannot. For example, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment including related expenses, can cost up to $7,000 in addition to $3,000 for required medication.

· Decisions made to treat infertility should be based on medical assessments, not financial means for the safest outcomes for couples and their children.

· Couples are paying out of pocket for IVF, they often opt for multiple embryo transfers, which results in a higher cost to the health care system of caring for women and children born as a result of multiple births.

· Manitoba should follow the lead of Ontario and Quebec, both of these provinces cover the costs of IVF.