Prime Minister Robert Abela, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Ian Borg and Minister for Equality and Civil Rights Rosianne Cutajar, visited the ART Clinic and the IVF Laboratory at Mater Dei Hospital to observe firsthand the work helping more people and families become parents, the government said Saturday.
During the visit, he met with doctors, nurses, midwives, and embryology specialists, receiving explanations about the IVF process stages and meeting with medical and administrative representatives.
The visit took place against the backdrop of fulfilling an electoral manifesto promise by expanding the list of genetic conditions eligible for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Disorders (PGT-M) with the inclusion of 17 new conditions. This procedure allows prospective parents to avoid passing on inherited health conditions to their children.
The Prime Minister stated that following amendments to the IVF law in the previous legislature's first hundred days, the government is now fulfilling its electoral commitment by voluntarily expanding the list of genetic conditions for this test. This step will give more couples the opportunity to become parents while offering peace of mind regarding their children's health and quality of life.
Abela added that these legislative changes reduce bureaucracy and reaffirm the administration's commitment to an inclusive, modern service based on the latest scientific and medical advances.
He also referenced recent announcements showing Malta registering results well above the European average in both traditional IVF treatments and those using donor sperm and donor oocytes. He noted that these positive results demonstrate how reforms and continuous investment in recent years are yielding strong outcomes, with a record 254 babies born through IVF in a single year, bringing the total number of babies born through IVF services in Malta to over 1,000.
Abela concluded by affirming that the government will continue investing in reproductive medicine to give more families hope, support, and proper opportunities to become parents, thanking all professionals for their dedication and daily specialized patient care.