104 IVF births at Mater Dei Hospital; 61 girls and 43 boys

Mater Dei Hospital has seen 104 births through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) since the service started being offered in January 2015.

Of these births, 61 were girls and 43 were boys. At the moment, there are more than 30 couples on the waiting list for IVF treatment.

In a statement, Minister for Health Chris Fearne said that “in politics, we need to take difficult decisions; however, offering IVF at Mater Dei was one of the most important decisions we have ever taken.”

“We know what sacrifices couples make when they undergo IVF treatment, but it is immediately forgotten once they hold their child in their arms. In the coming months, we are going to work to ensure that more couples are eligible for IVF treatment, because we believe that more couples should experience the joy of having children.”

The Opposition recently presented a parliamentary motion regarding a legal notice granting prospective parents leave to undergo medically assisted procreation.

The PN lost the motion, with 37 votes against, and 21 in favour.

Six PN MPs abstained from the motion, which was personally seconded by PN leader Adrian Delia at the start of the debate.

The six PN MPs who abstained were Mario De Marco, Therese Comodini Cachia, Karl Gouder, Karol Aquilina, Chris Said and Simon Busuttil (who was abroad during the vote but was included in the statement released by the MPs).