The Times reports that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is going to get clinics to give patients a clear picture of how much their fertility treatment is likely to cost at the outset. This is to be welcomed, as a substantial minority of patients have been finding that their final bill for treatment is far more than they'd anticipated, and apparently only one in five are currently given a costed plan before they start.
Although the HFEA monitors clinics carefully, it has no regulatory powers when it comes to their fees. The cost of fertility treatment has soared in the last decade, and with so much IVF being carried out in the private sector, more and more people are finding they simply can't afford it. The situation in the UK is particularly acute as the guidelines set by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, which recommended that women who needed IVF should be offered three funded cycles, have not been adhered to. The reality is that most women are fortunate if they find they qualify for one cycle funded by the NHS. Any move to make the costs of private treatment more transparent can only be a good thing.
You can find the Times report here
No comments:
Post a Comment