Allegations of unqualified doctors performing in vitro fertilisation procedures and embryo storage banks “losing” couples’ embryos were raised by MPs during yesterday’s parliamentary Health Committee meeting, where the Medical Assisted Reproduction Council requested further details to launch an investigation.
The council also raised concerns about the way foreign citizens, primarily same-sex couples, are travelling to centres in the occupied territories to have children using foreign donors.
During discussions of the council’s 2025 budget, MPs directed numerous questions to both council representatives and the Ministry of Health.
Lawmakers asked the Health Ministry to increase financial support for women after their first IVF attempt.
MPs explained that currently, women receive more funding for their first attempt than for subsequent procedures, a situation “that certainly doesn’t help couples”.
They also requested data from the Health Ministry regarding the number of women who have received subsidies to date, while calling on the council to launch an awareness campaign informing citizens about assisted reproduction issues and the current options available in Cyprus for cryopreservation of eggs, sperm and embryos.
The council’s president stated that efforts are currently underway to secure premises for the council, implement proper and secure archiving, and subsequently proceed with all other required processes.
He also addressed cases frequently brought to the council’s attention involving foreign citizens, particularly same-sex couples, who travel to the occupied territories to have children.
This may be an issue, he suggested, that Cyprus should raise at European Union level to ensure European citizens are aware these centres do not operate in areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
