The Romanian government will pay RON 15,000 for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures, and applications can be submitted online from December 5, according to Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities Gabriela Firea, Agerpres reports.

The statements were made on Tuesday at the Government House at the signing of a joint order approving rules for the application of a social programme of national interest in support of couples and singles to boost birth rates.

Firea drew attention to the fact that in Romania one out in five couples faces infertility. At the same time, because of financial constraints, not all couples have the opportunity to follow an adequate treatment, the cost of which is approximately EUR 3,000.

She added that for that reason, the leaders of the ruling coalition decided to extend nationwide a programme for subisdising IVF procedures applied by Bucharest City that led to 560 children being born.

Firea gave assurances that the programme will have „sufficient funding” next year.

„I can assure all the ladies who are looking at us and who fear that the money will run out that that will not happen and we have all made a commitment to you to extend the project countrywide, not just for Bucharest, as it was two years ago.”

Firea added that three attempts per year will be accepted, with subsidies running to RON 15,000 payable in two installments: a RON-500 voucher for treatment and a RON-10,000 voucher for embryo transfer.

Also attending the signing ceremony, Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity Marius Budai said that under a decision of 2019, people who want to follow this procedure get three days of additional paid leave.

Agerpres