Vol. 457 No. 6
61 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of instances in which his Department paid for patients to go abroad for infertility treatment not available in Ireland; the procedures involved; the health boards involved; the cost of each procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15893/95]
Limerick East): Under the terms of the scheme covering the referral of patients abroad, procedures costing less than £10,000 do not require the approval of my Department. I understand that the Eastern Health Board has approved the grant of financial assistance in respect of five couples who were required to go abroad for infertility treatment which was not available in this country. Treatment has been provided in respect of four of these cases, and the fifth case is still awaiting an appointment date. No patients from other health board areas have been approved under the scheme.
|
Number of cases |
Procedure |
Cost |
|
£ |
||
|
2 |
Harvesting of ova and in-vitro fertilisation |
2,931 4,669 |
|
1 |
Epididymal aspiration and micro assisted fertilisation |
3,615 |
|
1 |
Intra-cytoplastic sperm injection coupled with testicular epididymal sperm extraction |
2,104 |
|
1 |
Assisted insemination |
1,466 |
|
Total |
14,785 |
