IVF clinic requires 'additional apparatus' - Prof Mark Brincat

Health Minister Joseph Cassar and Justice Minister Chris Said this morning visited the IVF clinic at Mater Dei Hospital, which still requires “small additional apparatus” but Prof. Mark Brincat confirms procedures can commence immediately at the clinic.

Explaining the use of the various apparatus found in the clinic, Prof. Brincat, who is the director of the obstetrics and gynaecology department, said that the clinic was set up seven years ago purposely for IVF.

“Although there are small things which need to be purchased for the clinic, we can start using it as from today since other departments have the additional apparatus needed for the procedure and there are a couple of things which need upgrading but these are minor. The biggest expense for the clinic will actually be the consumables since everything else is already available and procedures can start as from today,” Brincat said.

The consumables required are specific Petri dishes and other non-reusable products which have to be renewed for each individual procedure.

“Apart from these, everything is already set up. We have high-tech microscopes which are used to analyse the eggs and fertilise by injection of sperm. We have highly-sophisticated digital liquid nitrogen tanks which are used to snap-freeze sperm and eggs, and also embryos in unique situations as defined by the new law,” Brincat explained.

Cassar said that IVF will be on the list of entitlements made available by the National Health Service and will be offered free of charge to anyone who fits the set criteria.

“We will have set criteria to be followed as with all other free medication and treatments offered by the government. This treatment will only be offered as a last resort if all other treatments fail,” Cassar said.

Asked why it has taken so long for an IVF bill to be introduced in Malta despite having a clinic available at Mater Dei Hospital, Said told journalists that the government’s goal was to have a concrete law.

“Since this is a very sensitive area, we have to ensure that this law does not allow foul play with human life, at any stage. We believe we have a good bill although we are not ruling out possible changes in the future. But, whatever the changes, the principles will remain the solid foundations of the bill,” Said said.

Answering questions on the possibility of working in conjunction with private hospitals to offer IVF services, Said said that the government was not ruling out the possibility of an agreement with private hospitals to use Mater Dei Hospital’s facilities for oocyte vitrification.

“Just as we have done in the past with other forms of treatment and apparatus, the same can be made possible with oocyte vitrification,” Said said. 

From top left clockwise: Microscope used to analyse eggs and fertilise; digital liquid nitrogen tank which can contain up to 100 samples; sealed digital liquid nitrogen tanks; monitoring equipment found in the theatre where implantation of fertilised eggs take place