Childless couples stunned at limits on IVF treatment

By ELIZABETH BINNING

Hundreds of childless couples who were overjoyed the Government would pay for a second round of IVF treatment are shocked to learn they won't qualify for it.

Health Minister Annette King dropped a bombshell at a Fertility NZ conference in Wellington when she announced that the opportunity to become parents would not be available to people who had their first round of in vitro treatment before the middle of last year.

Fertility NZ spokeswoman Robyn Scott said fertility groups were told during the minister's July announcement that they would be consulted about the finer details.

That consultation did not take place and to hear in the middle of Saturday's speech that the second chance would not be offered to everyone was a complete shock.

"Everybody was gobsmacked," said Mrs Scott. "A huge group of people have had their hopes built up. This is going to cause a great deal of grief and heartache."

The first many couples will know of the decision is by reading this news article.

Ms King confirmed yesterday that the treatment would be backdated only to those people who had had their first round of in-vitro fertilisation after July 1 last year.

"Whenever you start something new there are always going to be some people who miss out," she said, responding to criticism about the eligibility criteria.

"I have backdated it over 15 months."

Consultation had occurred but backdating the $4-million-a-year programme any further would be too expensive.

"I would rather look forward to the future," she said.

"It is unfortunate, but on the other side of it thousands of New Zealanders in the future are going to benefit from this."

About 3500 women seek fertility treatment each year and 43 per cent of them become pregnant.

It is thought that 90 per cent of those who were not successful would take advantage of the second round of Government-funded treatment.

Tauranga couple Donna and Rob Watkins said the news was a major blow.

"It's kind of like dangling a carrot in front of you and then taking it away," said a devastated Mrs Watkins.

The Watkins were not sure at first if they wanted to go through the emotional and physical turmoil again but, desperate for one last chance to have a child naturally, they decided to proceed.

They cannot afford to pay for another $7000 treatment round themselves and will now have to consider other ways of having a family.

Fertility Associates director Dr Richard Fisher said the news was a big, unpleasant surprise which would affect hundreds of childless couples.

It was disappointing there had not been any consultation after the original announcement in July.

There did have to be a cut-off date, Dr Fisher said, but something better could have been worked out.

"The second round of funded treatment has been a very popular decision but it's been marred by a lack of consultation."