Gov’t to provide assisted reproduction services for 130 eligible cases in 1H

The government has confirmed that 130 couples eligible for the assisted reproductive services scheme will receive treatment by the first half of 2026, following clinical evaluations at the city’s medical center.

The program, launched in December 2024, offers up to two cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to couples facing infertility.

The Health Bureau (SSM) has provided an update on the assisted reproductive services scheme, following concerns raised by lawmaker Leong Sun Iok over delays in treatment for couples facing infertility.

In his written inquiry, Leong said that while the initiative represents a significant step in supporting family planning in Macau, “some couples waiting for treatment have expressed concerns over long delays.”

He added, “For couples with limited fertility ‘golden years,’ time is extremely critical. As they age, their anxiety and concerns grow.”

He also noted practical issues with the subsidy’s coverage, such as the cost of freezing embryos during delays and counting cycles even when embryo transfer is not performed.

Responding to the inquiry, SSM director Alvis Lo said that as of mid-November 2025, the government had received 480 applications for the scheme. Of these, 352 cases were referred to the city’s medical center infertility clinic for follow-up, while the remaining applications did not meet eligibility requirements.

“After clinical evaluation, approximately 130 cases were deemed eligible for IVF or ICSI services,” Lo said. Services began in October 2025, with the goal of providing treatment for all eligible couples by the first half of 2026.

To improve efficiency, the medical center has allocated 16 staff members, including doctors, laboratory technicians, and nurses, to the program. Lo said that “optimized workflows and upgraded equipment will allow for further expansion of service capacity.”

“Currently, the subsidy covers egg retrieval and embryo transfer costs for two cycles, with each cycle including one egg retrieval and one embryo transfer. We will continue to review and assess the program to ensure ongoing support for residents with fertility needs,” he said.

Leong’s inquiry also suggested adjusting the subsidy to account for actual months of embryo freezing and calculating cycles based on actual embryo transfers rather than simply counting treatment attempts.

The number of newborns in Macau has reached a record low, with the SSM reporting just 2,871 births last year.

The city’s birth rate has been steadily declining in recent years. In 2022, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) reported an annual birth rate of 6.4‰, the lowest since records began in 1985, with 4,344 newborns registered – a year-on-year drop of 682.

The downward trend continued, with 3,712 births in 2023, 3,607 in 2024, and the latest figures from the SSM showing just 2,871 last year.

In late November, lawmakers pressed the government on how it plans to shield local schools from the effects of the record-low birth rate.

Education and Youth Development Bureau director Kong Chi Ming said the bureau is acting on a mid-year strategy study and has introduced preliminary measures to maintain education standards, noting the decline mirrors trends seen in other developed regions.