The Chuikyo = Central Social Insurance Medical Council began discussions on how far to expand the coverage of infertility treatment on the 21st.

In the future, we plan to start full-scale discussions and reach conclusions by the end of the year.

Currently, infertility treatment is not covered by public insurance except for some, and the financial burden is heavy, so the government expanded the subsidy system in an attempt to reduce the burden on those receiving treatment. Following this, from next year, we plan to expand the coverage of insurance coverage, where the self-pay will be 30% in principle.



To this end, the Chuikyo = Central Social Insurance Medical Council, an advisory body to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, will hold an online general meeting on the 21st to discuss how far the treatments and tests covered by insurance will be expanded. started.



At the general meeting, the guidelines that describe the standard treatment methods for infertility treatment compiled by the Japanese Society of Reproductive Medicine were reported, and based on these guidelines, the policy to consider the coverage of insurance was agreed.



We also confirmed that some treatments that cannot be confirmed to be effective or safe and are not covered by insurance are classified as "advanced medical treatment" and can be used in combination with treatments covered by insurance.



The committee members who attended commented that "insurance should be applied to those whose effectiveness and safety have been confirmed" and that "evidence-based discussions are important because the effects differ depending on age." I did.



The Chuikyo plans to start full-scale discussions and reach conclusions by the end of the year, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plans to expand the coverage of insurance in line with the revision of medical fees next year.

The current state of financial burden

Regarding infertility treatment, six years ago, as of 2015, one in 5.5 couples had experience, and in 2018, about 57,000 children were born by in vitro fertilization. I will.



On the other hand, the financial burden on the person receiving treatment is one of the challenges.



According to the results of a survey released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the average cost of each treatment is "artificial insemination", in which semen is collected, good sperm is taken out, and injected into the uterus during the period when it is easy to become pregnant. About 10,000 yen, "in vitro fertilization" that collects eggs, fertilizes them, and then returns them to the body is about 500,000 yen.



Looking at the total amount of medical expenses, more than one-fifth of the people who have received medical treatment said that it cost more than 1 million yen, and there are increasing calls for financial support.

According to the academic society guidelines

The guidelines compiled by the Japanese Society of Reproductive Medicine last month, which describe standard treatment methods for infertility treatment, are "strongly recommended," "recommended," and "implemented" for each treatment and test based on efficacy and safety. Is considered. ”Is evaluated on a three-point scale.



Of these, in vitro fertilization, in which eggs are collected, fertilized and then returned to the body, culture in which fertilized eggs are grown before being returned to the uterus, and treatment of male infertility such as erectile dysfunction with sexual function improving drugs are included. "Highly recommended".



Also "recommended" are "pre-implantation examination", which examines the chromosomes of fertilized eggs in advance when treating a woman who has miscarried twice in a row, and two fertilized eggs that have been fertilized in vitro for women over 35 years old. Includes how to return.



On the other hand, tests to check the types of bacteria in the uterus and methods to make small scratches on the endometrium, which are carried out at some medical institutions to make it easier to implant, are said to be "considered". is.



In the future, Chuikyo is expected to consider which treatments and tests should be covered by insurance based on these guidelines.