Since 20 November 2015, Quebec has withdrawn in-vitro fertilisation free of charge as part of the medically assisted procreation (MAP) programme. In 2014, the MAP programme implemented by Quebec proved to be far more expensive than anticipated, “costing the Health System 70 million Canadian dollars every year” (see Gènéthique du 11 septembre 2014). According to Le Devoir, Quebec is also prepared to stop refunding the medicinal products needed for these treatments.
The medicinal products required for medically assisted procreation procedures “can cost between $2,500 and $4,000 per cycle”, according to Dr. Pierre Miron, owner of the Fertilys Clinic, who added, “If Quebec abolishes medicinal product refunds, this will come as a second harsh blow to infertile patients who have already been severely affected”.
A spokesperson for the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) (National Institute for Health and Social Care Excellence), who reviews the medicinal products currently included in the list, confirmed “there is no intention to stop reimbursements for everything”.
Le Devoir (15/12/2016)