CHINA — The government of Beijing has announced its decision to include 16 types of assisted reproduction technology in the city’s healthcare system, effective from July 1.
This move is part of a series of measures taken by authorities to address China’s declining birth rate, which recently experienced its first population drop in six decades.
Under the new policy, treatments such as in-vitro fertilization, embryo transplantation, and semen freezing and storage will be covered by basic insurance, according to Du Xin, deputy director of Beijing’s Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau.
The introduction of these assisted reproduction technologies into the healthcare system is a response to the pressing need to reverse the downward trend in births.
In 2022, the number of newborns reached a record low of 6.77 per 1,000 people, and it is expected to further decline in 2023.
To address this alarming situation, China’s National Health Commission issued guidance last August, urging provinces to reform policies and provide support for fertility rates.
Prior to Beijing’s announcement, Liaoning province in northeast China had already revealed plans in May to include assisted reproduction technologies in its healthcare coverage, starting from July 1.
These regional initiatives align with the broader efforts to support individuals in their reproductive choices.
The timing of Beijing’s announcement coincides with an ongoing court case involving Teresa Xu, a 35-year-old unmarried Chinese woman who sued a public hospital in Beijing for refusing to freeze her eggs based on her marital status.
The outcome of this case could have implications for the rights of single and unmarried women in accessing fertility treatments.
In March, government political advisers recognized the urgent need to address China’s rapid aging and proposed that single and unmarried women should have access to services like egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Currently, unmarried women face significant barriers to accessing fertility treatments across the country due to a national regulation requiring marriage for eligibility.
Certain private clinics in provinces such as Sichuan have already begun offering IVF services due to the declining birth rate.
However, the nationwide liberalization of fertility treatments, including assisted reproduction technologies, may result in increased demand and place additional strain on limited fertility services, according to investors and industry executives.
By expanding healthcare coverage to include these reproductive technologies, Beijing aims to create more opportunities for individuals to pursue parenthood and reverse the declining birth rate.
This decision has the potential to unleash a significant demand in the world’s largest market, and it is essential to carefully manage the impact on existing fertility services to ensure their sustainability.
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