The insurance coverage for infertility treatment will be expanded from April, but the government hopes for children because it will not be covered by insurance if infertility treatment is performed using frozen eggs before cancer treatment. It turned out that we have decided to establish a new subsidy system from next year to support young cancer patients.
In the treatment of cancer, side effects of anticancer drugs and radiation therapy may cause infertility, and efforts by young cancer patients to freeze and store eggs and sperms in advance are spreading.
However, general infertility treatment such as "in vitro fertilization" will be covered by insurance from April, but it is not covered when using frozen eggs or sperm before cancer treatment, so the cost There was concern that the burden on the patient would increase.
Regarding this, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has put together a proposal for a new subsidy system for cancer patients and others to treat infertility.
According to the draft system, the maximum amount of subsidy is 250,000 yen for in vitro fertilization with frozen eggs and 300,000 yen for in vitro fertilization with frozen sperms. It means that it is provided.
The specific content will be finalized after deliberation by an expert review group.
Tadashi Suzuki, a member of the "Study Group on Fertility Preservation Therapy for Cancer Patients of the Pediatric and AYA Generation" and Chairman of the Japan Cancer and Reproductive Medicine Society, said, "Cancer patients who want children in the future will get sick with hope. It is important for medical personnel involved in cancer treatment to provide accurate information in order to expand the system. "