Extension of Co-Funding for Assisted Conception Procedures Scheme to Private Assisted Reproduction Centres

21 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health whether the Co-Funding for Assisted Conception Procedures (ACP) scheme can be extended to private Assisted Reproduction (AR) centres.

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Currently, co-funding for Assisted Conception Procedures (ACP) is available at public Assisted Reproduction (AR) centres. Current utilisation rates at our public AR centres are around 70%, and there is sufficient capacity for couples seeking ACP such as Assisted Reproduction Technology treatments and Intra Uterine Insemination. The wait times are not long as patients should be able to commence on the next cycle once they are assessed to be medically ready. This usually takes two to six weeks.

We recognise that there may be some couples who wish to seek treatment at private AR centres and will study the proposal to extend the co-funding to private AR centres while ensuring charges remain reasonable. In addition, couples who seek treatment at private AR centres can use their MediSave. Up to $15,000 can be withdrawn either from the patient’s or her spouse’s MediSave for ACP, and this helps to reduce the out-of-pocket costs for the procedures.