5 ways to allocate funding for fertility care in Ontario
Thoughts on new fertility funding in Ontario.
Ontario is adding $150M over 2 years (2025 and 2026) to support fertility with the goal of reducing wait lists and improving access. In addition, they are offering a tax rebate. This is welcome news for patients. The expansion of fertility care in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia is final recognition that building families needs to be supported. Congratulations to Conceivable Dreams and some stoic patient and physician advocates for years of advocacy. Thanks to Hon Sylvia Jones for the courage to allocate money toward building Canadian families.
Markham Fertility Centre encourages the Hon. Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, to use this opportunity to allocate funding for fertility in a way that solves current inequities. Here are 5 things to consider….
1. Use funding to help resolve challenges for Northern Ontarian residents who bear a larger burden than those living in urban centres. Allocate additional cycles for northern resident, allow travel grants, and Hope Air the $2M/yr it needs to transport Ontarians to urban centre for care. Funding Hope Air benefits ALL patients, not just fertility patients.
2. Consider whether funding is helping those in lower socioeconomic circumstances and commit to finding ways to support these communities whether through education, access, or additional financial support. No data exists in Ontario that relates how funding is being allocated among the population. Even with funding, costs of genetic testing and medications can be enough of a barrier to cause others without means to give up. We just need to leave the playing field and ensure health dollars are used in a way to allow for equal outcomes regardless of socio-economic circumstances.
3. Make quality and outcomes a factor in determining where funds are allocated. Accreditation (Accreditation Canada) and Licensing (through Health Canada’ Safety of Ova and Sperm Regulations) are relevant requisites. It’s also time to make treatment outcomes public as they do in the USA and UK. Patients deserve information, transparency, and accountability. Patients also deserve to know that their organization has met high standards.
4. Consider increasing the reimbursement amount, which has only increased 2-3% over 9 years. All Healthcare needs to be funded in a way that allows for reinvestment in innovation & development. Additional funding will put pressure on clinics to accommodate more treatment cycles where there are already limited resources (trained embryologists, reproductive specialists, trained nurses). Clinics must become more efficient without sacrificing quality, safety, efficacy, and service. Reinvestment is a key way to reduce costs of care and improve outcomes in the long term.
5. Whatever path the Hon Minister of Health takes, let it be transparent; let not the loudest voices or deepest relationships dictate the flow of funds. Rather, let all of the above guide our path toward building the best funded fertility program in the world; one that delivers equity, accountability, and healthy families.