The Legault government’s new public assisted procreation program is in bad shape. Due to a disagreement with Quebec, private fertility clinics have suspended treatment for many women and are refusing new patients.
• Read also: Infertility treatment: access to the expanded assisted reproduction program
Ministers Lionel Carmant and Eric Girard underlined with great fanfare at the beginning of the month the entry into force of free in vitro fertilization treatment and the relaxation of the eligibility criteria for the refundable tax credit for the treatment. of infertility.
But what was supposed to be good news has turned into a nightmare for several infertile couples since November 15.
* Annie is among the victims of this dispute. “What should have been an improvement in the range of care in Quebec is currently worsened”, laments the young woman. The latter, who had started insemination treatments earlier this fall at the Ovo fertility clinic, was shocked when she heard the cancellation of her next appointment.
“They said that after November 15th, they put all the new appointments, whether it is for insemination, fertility or whatever, they put a stop on that since they did not really agree with the new procedures with the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) ”.
A sign that the dispute is serious, he was even told to stop taking the hormones necessary for his treatments.
Discouraged, Annie turned to the Hospital. She registered on the waiting list of the fertility clinic of the CHU de Sainte-Justine, which for its part applies the new provisions of the public assisted procreation program. “But the first dates are fine in the summer!”
At the Ovo clinic, we do not want to make any comments in the public square for the moment. Our calls to other private fertility clinics, such as Procrea and Fertilis, also went unanswered.
The Laval Fertilis clinic had, however, sent a message to its clients on Facebook following the entry into force of free in vitro fertilization treatment and the enhancement of the refundable tax credit for the treatment of IVF. ‘infertility. A publication that severely criticizes the government.
A “fight that begins”
“Facilitating access to medically assisted procreation services according to the new ministerial criteria implies concerted planning and reorganization with assisted procreation centers such as Fertilys. This was not done by the ministry. in vitro fertilization until further notice ”.
Even the president and founder of the clinic, Dr Pierre Miron, defended his decision by evoking an important conflict. “I know the next few weeks will be difficult and it affects me personally because I know your distress. Tell yourself that there are good reasons for being informed this evening of the situation in which the current government is placing us. All my career, I have been by your side, I now ask you to be by my side and next to Fertilys in this battle which is beginning, ”he signed in the post on social networks.
In Sainte-Justine, we admit receiving “a lot” of requests from women or couples who were followed up to now in private fertility clinics, but who have had their appointments suspended. Unsurprisingly, demand has been great since the return of free treatment for certain treatments. “We suddenly doubled our activities (current capacity) and we anticipate tripling them at the start of winter,” explains the manager of the assisted procreation center, Pascal Desrosiers.
The minister responsible for social services, Lionel Carmant, has planned a successful first year for the program. The government is preparing to receive around 7,000 applications for a free first round of in vitro fertilization. Thereafter, it is estimated that there will be 3,500 requests annually.
At the time of writing, Minister Carmant’s office had not answered our questions.
* This is a fictitious name, at the request of the young woman, who does not want to compromise her chances of being able to found a family.
The Legault government has broadened access to the public assisted procreation program.
Since November 15, infertile couples, in which the woman is under the age of 41, have free access to:
- an in vitro fertilization cycle
- ovarian stimulation
- services required for male infertility
- six artificial inseminations
- sperm sequins
- preservation of fertility during gonadotoxic treatments (for example: chemotherapy, treatment of autoimmune diseases) and removal of the ovaries and testes for up to 25 years or for 5 years, whichever comes first
The cycles which are not covered by the free education because of the age of the woman or because the couple already has a child are eligible for the refundable tax credit for the treatment of infertility which varies between 20% and 80 % of expenses according to family income for an annual maximum of $ 20,000.