Ontario increasing in-vitro fertilization funding by $50M a year

Ontario says it will fund one cycle ofin-vitro fertilizationfor eligible women up to the age of 42, a change that women who have undergone the costly treatment have advocated for.

The province will increase funding for IVFby $50 million annually,Health Minister EricHoskinssaid Thursday.The funding isin addition to the $20 million per year currently spent on assisted reproduction services.

About two per cent of births in Ontario are a result of IVF, andHoskinssays people will be able to get funding for the treatment beginning in December.

"Children are our future and, by creating a more equitable and accessible fertility program, the government is supporting family-building for those who couldn't otherwise have the opportunity to have children," Hoskinssaid in a statement.

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Sandra Alsaffawi-Davidwas thrilled to hear today's announcement.

Alsaffawi-Davidtold CBC News that she had to get private medical funding for an IVF procedure three years ago after her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer.Alsaffawi-Davidsaidthe treatment, which didn't work,set her backover $9,000.

"I'm paying off that medical loan every month and it's a reminder that the procedure didn't work," she said.

In a statement, she said today's announcementsends "a clear and powerful message that infertility is a legitimate health issue and medical condition."

Last April, Ontario announced it would fund in-vitro fertilization forpeople unable to have children otherwise, and wouldpay the cost ofone cycleof IVF treatment perpatient.

The Liberals set up an advisory body to make sure high-qualitypractices are followed, including ensuring that only one embryo isused per treatment. So-called single-embryo transfer has been shownelsewhere to cut the number of twins, triplets and other multiplebirths that result from IVF treatments.