A medical expert, Prof. Christian Makwe, has identified high cost as a major factor limiting access to In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in Nigeria.
Makwe, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, stated this in his lecture at the 20th Annual Scientific Conference and gathering of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, on Tuesday.
The expert, who put the technical or baseline fee for IVF at N550,000, said that patients would still buy their drugs as required, with the costs of drugs ranging from N2 million to N2.4 million.
According to him, it is not easy for patients to cough out the amount involved, advocating, therefore, for a situation whereby patients have universal access to the fertility treatment.
Makwe advocated for subsidising the cost by government or intervening with companies selling the drugs.
“60 to 70 per cent of the cost of IVF is drugs, which means that these drugs are very expensive and needs to be well-preserved so that they don’t expire on spoil.
“If the drugs are subsidised, then you can have your IVF cheaper,” he said.
The don noted that infertility is not witchcraft or spiritual issues, stating that couples experiencing it should report at the hospital early.
He also called for prioritisation of infertility prevention through healthy lifestyle choices, use of barrier contraceptives, avoidance of unsafe abortion and peripartum infections.
Makwe urged healthcare providers to deliver education and counseling on sexual and reproductive health and rights, while minimising unnecessary surgeries and invasive procedures.
Government and policy makers, he said, should also ensure availability of adequate resources, including appropriate equipment and staffing for high quality fertility care.
