Infertile couples in Quebec will now be able to access government-funded in vitro fertilization treatments (IVF), a first in North America.
Couples who have not been able to conceive naturally will be eligible for three free rounds of treatment as of Aug. 5, said Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc.
The province becomes the first jurisdiction on the continent to offer subsidized IVF treatments, which are a costly and last-ditch option for couples with problems conceiving.
Quebec's government hopes to see the number of IVF pregnancies double in coming years as a result of the policy, Bolduc said at a news conference on Tuesday at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital.
An average of 3,500 IVF pregnancies are recorded in the province every year.
Treatments covered by the Quebec government include:
* Egg harvesting.
* In vitro fertilization.
* Pre-implant genetic testing.
* Embryo transfer.
* Sperm sample collection.
A single IVF treatment in a private clinic can cost up to $15,000.
Read more: CBC News - Montreal - Quebec to pay for IVF treatment
Couples who have not been able to conceive naturally will be eligible for three free rounds of treatment as of Aug. 5, said Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc.
The province becomes the first jurisdiction on the continent to offer subsidized IVF treatments, which are a costly and last-ditch option for couples with problems conceiving.
Quebec's government hopes to see the number of IVF pregnancies double in coming years as a result of the policy, Bolduc said at a news conference on Tuesday at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital.
An average of 3,500 IVF pregnancies are recorded in the province every year.
Treatments covered by the Quebec government include:
* Egg harvesting.
* In vitro fertilization.
* Pre-implant genetic testing.
* Embryo transfer.
* Sperm sample collection.
A single IVF treatment in a private clinic can cost up to $15,000.
Read more: CBC News - Montreal - Quebec to pay for IVF treatment