New Brunswick is spending more than $1.9 million to make it easier for residents to have access to fertility treatments. The province says the money will provide reimbursement for one round of in vitro fertilization treatment or intrauterine insemination per household as a way to help ease the financial burden on families struggling with infertility. “We want every New Brunswicker who wants to start a family to have that choice,” said Premier Susan Holt in a news release Wednesday. “Financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of making someone’s dream of starting a family come true.” Infertility affects about one in six Canadians, according to a provincial news release. The province says the funding support is aimed at making it easier for people to get the care they need, considering in vitro fertilization treatment is costly and can be out of reach for many. “This initiative demonstrates not only a recognition of the medical needs of our patients, but also a compassionate understanding of the emotional and financial challenges they face,” said Dr. Samuel Jean, reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at the Conceptia Clinic in Moncton, in the news release. “As physicians, our goal is to provide evidence-based, patient-centred care that helps individuals and couples build the families they dream of. This investment will help ensure that fertility care is accessible, equitable and aligned with the province’s broader goals for improving health outcomes.” Holt also pointed to a need for more fertility clinics, as Moncton is home to the only one in the province. “Everyone doesn’t live in Moncton obviously and it can be a long trip that generates costs of travel and accommodations and this clinic is bursting at the seams. They’re in the process of looking for new space because their waitlists are long,” said Holt. She adds the province will also cover the costs for Canadian clinics if travel to the Moncton clinic is too far. “If folks identify there’s a clinic across the border that’s closer to Moncton, we will pay the costs of a Canadian clinic. So if they have to go to Quebec or Nova Scotia to get access that’s still covered by New Brunswick,” said Holt. New Brunswick Health Minister John Dornan says while the province will cover the medical expenses, many of the travel costs are still left to the families. “For example, hotel rooms. Travel, meals, there’s parts of the treatment people will still be covering. We are covering the medical part of it, we need to cover that, but it doesn’t mean people don’t have other expenses,” said Dornan. the announcement reflects best practices and evolving standards across Canada in reproductive health care. While it’s a step forward, Dornan says there’s still room for improvement. “This clinic could be bigger and they’ve made that clear to us. Both physically space-wise and the number of people that they can see,” said Dornan. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
