Hungarian couples to storm foreign fertility clinics?

IVF clinics of neighbouring countries can expect an increase of interest from Hungarian couples.

Lately, the Hungarian government has taken some decisions and passed some unpopular bills. From the “homophobic law” to the reorganisation of the universities’ old structures, these decrees made many people react negatively.

The latest government decree accepted in summer with a pro-government majority did not only cause dissatisfaction; many decided to seek a solution to their problem outside of the country.

The Hungarian government decided to ban the independent functioning of all IVF – in vitro fertilisation – clinics and brought them under state control.

Although the treatment itself and all medications are accessible in a public institution, waiting lists are longer. Furthermore, the process is less personal, and state-owned clinics offer fewer types of treatments.

As a consequence, many decide to seek a solution on the other side of the border. As Népszava highlights, they do so not only because of better possibilities but also because couples do not want their embryo to do anything with the Hungarian system.

Fertility clinics in the Czech Republic and Slovakia already registered a growing number of applications.

Hvg.hu writes that many foreign medical centres are already preparing for the rush. Most places extend their staff with Hungarian-speaking assistants, while others rearrange their marketing budget.

Although the law will only come into effect from July 1 of 2022, its impact is already showing.

From September 30, no private clinic can begin new treatment.

Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás and Minister for Families Katalin Novák said the decision was taken to make the finances of these clinics more transparent. Gergely Gulyás claimed that these institutions had abused governmental resources. In reality, no private clinic received any financial support from the state.

Furthermore, some people do not only wish to centralise the process but to ban it for good. András Veres, president of the Hungarian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, represents this standpoint. He claims that for bioethical purposes, it is not enough to create a harsher law, but the whole program and the work of these clinics should be terminated.

Those couples who can not have their own children due to fertility issues should adopt.

Source: nepszava.hu, hvg.hu