Gov’t to partially subsidise parents seeking assisted reproductive treatment

Parents seeking technologically assisted reproductive treatment will soon be entitled to a government subsidy under a new bill currently under discussion by lawmakers.

A Legislative Assembly panel is now poring over new legislation that will allow the government to share the financial burdens of parents struggling with infertility.

Chan Chak Mo, the legislator heading the committee, told media earlier today (Tuesday) that the financial support will be provided through a programme for parents in need.

However, the chairman of the second standing committee of the Legislative Assembly stressed that it would be partial coverage only, and that eligible applicants would still have to pay for part of the costs of the medical treatment they were receiving.

Chan said that referrals to Hong Kong hospitals for assisted reproductive treatment cost public coffers some MOP10 million (US$1.24 million) between 2013 and 2016 – with such referral services, however, having come to a stop in February 2016.

More specifics about the subsidy programme will be made clear at future meetings with government officials, Chan said.