The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has officially opened applications for government-provided services such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
One of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's key commitments has been to ensure the provision of health services such as IUI and IVF through the Aasandha Scheme. In February, a service policy regarding these services was formulated and strategised. NSPA has announced that the application window for IUI and IVF services will be open from March 15 to May 15, 2024.
It has been confirmed that among eligible couples meeting the criteria, the couple with the maximum points out of 100 will be granted IVF service. NSPA has assured that IVF service will be available in all empaneled healthcare facilities, both domestically and internationally. Meanwhile, IUI service will be provided through empaneled healthcare bodies domestically under the Aasandha Programme.
Application forms for both IUI and IVF will be made available on NSPA's website, as well as on the Aasandha website and counters in designated locations. Additionally, forms can be submitted via NSPA's email and Viber number. NSPA has announced that the opportunity to apply through the Aasandha digital portal will be available by next week.
Eligible applicants for IVF will be contacted via message or email within 30 working days post-submission. Similarly, those applying for IUI service will be reached via SMS or email within 5 working days.
As per NSPA's gazetted regulation, individuals will be provided with IUI service thrice under the Aasandha scheme. Similarly, IVF service will be provided for a period of 2 years.
The requirements for those applying for IUI and IVF services include:
- Couples must not have undergone infertility surgery
- Couples must not have a child
- The wife's age should be within 25-42, and the husband must not be 55 years of age
- The wife's body mass index should be between 19-30
- The couple must not have engaged in the consumption of tobacco through smoking
- The couple must not have been convicted of a criminal offense in the past 3 years
In conclusion, individuals eligible for IVF assistance must have been married for 3 years and present a medical condition hindering natural conception. Assistance is extended to those who have had failed treatments and received a specialist's recommendation advocating IUI and IVF as the best option.