Malta’s in-vitro fertilisation law amendments will allow pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos in cases of serious genetic disorders within families, Health Minister Chris Fearne said.

In cases of serious diseases such as Huntington’s Disease and other conditions, Fearne said that there could be the possibility for future treatment as medicine continues to evolve.

He suggested the freezing of embryos which could become viable at a later stage and could lead to the birth of a healthy baby, allowing for the couple to avoid losing their baby.

Fearne addressed a press conference on the amending of the IVF law to allow for wider accessibility of the treatment.

He said that this reform has been one of the main pillars of the Labour’s electoral program.

Fearne revealed the progress the IVF law has made, where since 2013, 419 babies have been born from all the assisted procreation cycles carried out. The ‘Take Home Baby’ rate for the year of 2021 stood at 21.13%, an increase of 5.69% from that of the previous year.

Changes in the law will allow for the facilitation of gamete donation, one of which being that gamete donations from persons related by affinity in the direct line will no longer be excluded. This was changed to address same sex couples, where the law was impeding them from receiving gamete donations from persons related by affinity, Fearne said.

Donations by ascendants, descendants or siblings will remain non permissible, he said.

Fearne said that the law will also facilitate gamete importation and distribution from abroad, where changes in the Embryo Protection Authority will allow for third party identity release donors. He added that this will also allow collaboration with foreign oocyte and sperm banks.

The law also entails small amendments to the Adoption Administration Board, where it can make recommendations to the EPA regarding the eligibility and suitability of prospective parents relative to the adoption of an embryo, Fearne said.

In terms of increasing IVF opportunities, there will be changes in the entitlement criteria, which will now allow persons to apply for free treatment from the government for two children, rather than one, Fearne said.

Increases in the cycles which a woman can access from the hospital free of charge will also be implemented, and each cycle will include either one episode of ovarian stimulation and retrieval of oocytes, or the use of cryopreserved oocytes, Fearne explained.

Fearne said that couples or single women who have already made use of three cycles will be able to apply for an additional one. The maximum of three cycles of the IVF treatment will also be offered to women up until the age of 46, the age increasing from that of 42.

The government will also increase opportunities for couples to make use of this treatment in Malta, rather than abroad.

Parliamentary secretary for reforms and equality Rebecca Buttigieg said that these changes show that the government is one of reforms. She said that the facilitation of the process of receiving the treatment in Malta will give a chance for prospective parents to have healthy babies, and experience less suffering.

Buttigieg said that these changes will curb the struggles these parents have to face in fragile moments of their lives.