Ireland Healthcare Announcement of Publicly Funded Fertility Treatment Services: .

The Irish Department of Health has approved funding for the *Health Service Executive (HSE) to introduce publicly funded fertility treatment services from September 2023. This announcement is the first phase in the rollout of Assisted Human Reproductive Services in Ireland.   It will see patients being referred by their general practitioner to a Regional Fertility Hub where they can avail of further specialist tests and interventions.  The six new fertility hubs will offer a wide range of investigations and treatments such as IVF, IUI and ICSI for people who meet the access criteria.  At present, the regional fertility hubs are receiving about 150 new referrals monthly, however the HSE is engaging with private providers in order to have services available across the entire country.

The HSE has issued a tender seeking applications from Irish clinics for a range of listed services starting from late September 2023.  Under this proposal, once advanced treatment is recommended by a Reproductive Medical Consultant and the patients meet the access criteria, the Hubs will refer patients to an HSE-approved private provider.  There is no cost to patients for treatment in the Regional Fertility Hubs or the recommended treatment through private providers. 

As the HSE puts further plans in place to extend these services across Ireland, opportunities for U.S. companies specializing in relevant blood tests, semen analysis, fertility-related surgeries and medical management of fertility challenges including ovulation induction with follicle tracking could arise.

U.S. companies interested in availing of opportunities in the fertility sector in Ireland, and in seeking representation and information on how the U.S. Commercial Service can assist U.S. companies, should reach out to Commercial Advisor, Julianne O’Leary at the U.S. Commercial Service Ireland via julianne.oleary@trade.gov.

*The Irish public healthcare system in Ireland is regulated by the Department of Health while the Health Service Executive (HSE) has operational responsibility