The Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, announced that the national health service will begin offering the facility for individuals to freeze eggs and sperm for use at a later stage in the IVF process.

Addressing a press conference, Abela said that until now, this facility was offered only to individuals for medical reasons. The new criteria, which are coming into force immediately, will also include women between 18 and 34 years of age who may wish to become parents in the future. They will now be able to undergo egg freezing and sperm freezing free of charge through the public service (NHS) for personal future use, with the aim of preserving their fertility.

Abela explained that as age advances, the fertility rate in women declines continuously. He stated that this rate may also be negatively affected by gynaecological infections.

Therefore, Abela appealed for sexual health to be given particular importance by individuals. This measure is intended for those who, for various reasons including career circumstances, prefer to have children later in life. He stated that this will be carried out within a robust legal framework and under the regulations and oversight of the Embryo Protection Authority.

"Social freezing of eggs and sperm provides a greater opportunity for individuals who wish to become parents later in their reproductive life. Therefore, this is a pro-life measure that addresses the low fertility rate in our country," Minister Abela concluded.

For her part, Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg stressed that this procedure will not involve the freezing of embryos but only the separate freezing of eggs and sperm.

The Parliamentary Secretary stated that there are individuals who, for valid reasons, required this procedure in the past but could not access it because the national health service did not provide it.

She described this development as a new right through which modern scientific facilities will be available to everyone, not only to those who can afford to pay.

Buttigieg stated that this procedure will strengthen flexibility in family planning and, eventually, improve the fertility rate. She added that this is another example of a government supporting families in achieving their aspirations while fully respecting their personal choices.