Government has always supported IVF - Cassar

Speaking on legislations to regulate in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and assisted reproductive techinique (ART) Health Minister Joe Cassar said nothing is stopping the government from legislating IVF and the law is currently being written.

"It has a whole process to go through but it has been made clear several times that the present government agrees with such a legislation going through," Cassar said, adding that the difficulty still remains to regulate ART and the entitlement of patients to ART.

“Not everyone will be entitled to the services via the national health service. The ministry will be focusing on entitlement, the beneficiaries and debates are still needed on this,” Cassar said.

Addressing a seminar on ART and Innovative Techniques, Cassar said that that he believes that “a new human life is established at the successful fertilisation of an ovum” and “the termination of a human life not to be decided upon by any human being”.

“I, personally, as an individual, hold very clear views and opinions regarding ART which automatically eliminates the endorsement of a rang of practices, such as embryo selection and freezing,” he said.

Cassar said ART is unique due to those diametrically opposed opinions across the health care professions and society itself.

“Such new medical services need to be complemented by the appropriate legal, regulatory, cultural and social structures. Government is striving to ensure that the relevant activity across all the respective ministries,” Cassar said.