Proposal for state-funded transgender surgical and hormone treatment to be presented to Cabinet

● IVF for LGBTIQ couples also under discussion

Cabinet will be hearing a proposal for the inclusion of surgical treatment and hormone therapy for transgender persons on the National Health Service in the coming weeks, Minister for Health Chris Fearne has told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

The Minister also informed this newspaper that a report conducted by an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Prof. Pierre Mallia, concerning the extension of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment to LGBTIQ cou- ples has been presented to the parliamentary bioethics committee with a view to it being introduced into Maltese legislation.

Dr Fearne, however, also insisted that the option of surrogacy was not up for discussion.

The proposal for transgender therapy being provided by the state is a joint effort between Dr Fearne and Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Helena Dalli. Such therapy will also involve psychological and further medical support.

Dr Fearne, however, could not guarantee that the proposed legislation will be introduced before the next General Election, and he could not provide more specifics on the proposal as the details are still being discussed.

When contacted, Nationalist Party Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami told The Malta Independent on Sunday that he believes that, “The National Health Service is there to serve all people irrespective of their gender identity and sexual orientation.”

The sentiment was echoed by PN candidate Salvu Mallia, who told this newsroom that hormone treatment and surgery for transgender people should be available through the National Health Service, if the State budget would allow for it.

“It’s a big decision that a person takes, and whoever decides to take such a step truly does need it,” he said.

However, on surrogacy, Dr Fenech Adami and Mr Mallia disagree, with the former saying that he “was personally against surrogacy”, and the latter saying that he could not understand why such an issue was even being discussed, when surrogacy is a force for good since it allows people to form loving families.

“I believe that once science has provided people with the opportunity to do so, they should be allowed to do it” he said.

PN candidate Alexander Mangion had also told INDEPTH, The Malta Independent’s online interview programme that he was in favour of surrogacy.

Running contrary to Minister Fearne’s previous statements, Dr Etienne Grech, Labour MP and chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, told The Malta Independent on Sunday that he was in favour of surrogacy in extreme circumstances, specifically when medical conditions prevent the woman’s uterus from being able to reproduce.

Dr Grech also said he is in favour of IVF treatment being given to LGBTIQ couples following the legal rights approved to LGBTIQ couples to adopt and raise children of their own.

Mr Mallia agreed, saying that he “did not see anything wrong” with allowing LGBTIQ couples being given access to IVF treatment, especially when considering that adoption is already provided to them.

He went on to say that he was also in favour of sperm donation in extreme circumstances, such as male infertility in a heterosexual relationship, or if there was consent from the donor and the female recipient.

“In the case where a woman does not have a functioning uterus but has healthy ovaries and the potential to reproduce and without surrogacy she cannot do so, I think it is only fair that she can be allowed. However, there must be a law regulating it.”

Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia told The Malta Independent on Sunday that he was in favour of “LGBTIQ couples having the legal right to IVF in our Health Care Delivery System”.

But he did say that, “In doing so we must adamantly safeguard the rights of the unborn. This is fundamental and supersedes any manmade law.

“Sperm donation, ova donation and surrogacy are lucrative businesses and are shrouded in unruly ethics. This must not be. Any legislation in this regard must guarantee certainty, predictability and foreseeability, with no exceptions.”

He also said that he was “in favour of surrogacy whether it is for straight or LGBTIQ couples” but that he was “still undecided if this should be granted to single women or men”.

He also agreed that transgender treatments should be provided on the national health care service but said that he should “just call a spade a spade – I totally disagree that conditioning children to believe that a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal, it is child abuse.”

PN Leader Simon Busuttil and Shadow Minister for Health Claudette Buttigieg did not respond to the questions sent.