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Question and Answer Tracking Details

4322 - PUBLIC FERTILITY CARE SERVICES

Ward, Gareth to the Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health, and Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast

(1) Can you list public fertility care services available in the Kiama electorate?

(2) What has the government done to improve public fertility care services since coming to power?

(3) Can you report on public fertility services and IVF wait times in the State?

(4) How many people each year for the last five years have accessed the NSW Government’s fertility rebate scheme?

(5) Is the Government considering extending the scheme or introducing initiatives such as Victoria’s Bulk-Billed IVF clinic?

(6) Is the Government considering a dedicated authority like the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA)?

(a) If not, why not?

(7) Does the Government have plans for a public egg and sperm bank?

(a) If not, why not?

(8) How are you assisting access to public fertility care services for low-income earners, people living in rural and regional areas or people who need donor services or altruistic surrogacy support?
Answer -
PUBLIC FERTILITY CARE SERVICES

I'm advised:

(1) Health services are not provided on an electorate basis.

(2 - 5) and (7 - 8)

The NSW Government supports access to affordable fertility testing and treatment through the NSW Affordable IVF Initiative. The Initiative includes lower cost IVF through publicly supported clinics, fertility preservation services for people with a medical need, a pre-lVF fertility testing rebate, and the fertility treatment rebate.

Publicly supported lower cost IVF is available at the Fertility Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the Westmead Fertility Centre linked with Westmead Hospital, and the Fertility and Research Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women. Each clinic provides information about other services, including donor services on their respective websites.

Programs under the initiative can be accessed by anyone who is eligible, regardless of where they live.

The NSW Government has committed to help low to middle income families undergoing fertility treatment by extending the $2,000 Fertility Treatment Rebate to June 2028.

(6) In NSW, assisted reproductive technology is regulated under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act 2007 and ART Regulation 2024.

It is reported that as a result of recent legislative change in Victoria, the regulation of ART and management of Victoria's donor conception registers will be transferred from VARTA to the Victorian Government Department of Health.

Question asked on 22 November 2024 (session 58-1) and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 91
Answer received on 20 December 2024 and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 92

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.