Hundreds of couples on the waiting list for IVF at UCCK

Amidst difficult hospital conditions, a lack of medicines, and the departure of doctors, an issue that has long dominated discussions about Kosovo's healthcare system is the delayed operationalization of the IVF, or medically assisted fertilization, ward.

Last November, the Minister of Health, Arben Vitia, said that the ward within the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) would become operational in mid-December.

But, at that time, patients interested in IVF only started scheduling appointments for consultations and check-ups regarding the procedure - there was no application of it to couples.

Already in the second half of February 2025, health authorities say that the practical implementation of IVF will begin "soon", but do not specify a date.

The Kosovo Ministry of Health told Radio Free Europe that, "during March, ovarian stimulation is expected to begin in the first cases, and in the next phase, the first IVF procedures will begin."

A similar commitment to REL was also made by officials of the University Hospital and Clinical Service of Kosovo – SHSKUK, which oversees the UCCK.

On Tuesday, February 18, REL was informed by its sources at UCCK that drugs and consumables for IVF have not yet been provided to the UCCK department.

It is understood that the tender for selecting the bidder has been opened, but it is not known how far the procedure has progressed.

At the Gynecology Clinic at UCCK, where the IVF department is located, they say that in the last two months, numerous consultations have been held with couples who want to become parents through IVF.

The waiting list for such consultations has reached around 1.000 cases and some of them have to wait beyond the fourth month of the year.

"I'm waiting impatiently, because we don't have the conditions to try in private institutions," said Valoni, who together with his wife have an appointment for consultations in April.

"This would be an ideal opportunity," said the couple, who have been married for eight years and have no children.

Gynecology employees say that due to high interest, this clinic has increased the number of days it accepts requests for checkups and consultations - from three as it was previously to five.

The head of the IVF department, Leandrit Bejtullahu, expresses his belief that things are going in the right direction.

"We are in the preparatory phase, when patients come in with tests and it is assessed whether they meet the criteria or not... After their preparation, the stimulation phase comes," says Bejtullahu.

Bejtullahu says that the age limit of up to 42 years for women who want to undergo IVF is set based on international standards.

But, this was not well received by a 45-year-old woman, who approached the UCCK for this procedure.

"They told me that they only accept cases up to the age of 42. I don't know what this is, why is there an age limit? This is not right," she said, as she left the UCCK building last week.

"I have tried IVF in private hospitals as well. Doctors have never told me it doesn't work," she said.

How is IVF applied in Kosovo?

Kosovo has had a law on reproductive health, which includes IVF, since 2007.

But, in the absence of an IVF department at UCCK, the procedure could only be performed in private hospitals, where it costs up to 3.000 euros.

The procedure, if not successful the first time, can be repeated at least two more times, according to recommendations.

At UCCK, this service will be offered free of charge the first two times, while afterwards the price per procedure will be around 670 euros.

The construction of the IVF ward at UCCK began in 2020 and the then UCCK leaders pledged that the procedure would begin to be applied in 2021.

The delays that have occurred in the meantime are related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shifted the focus to the public health emergency.

Otherwise, the investments of the Ministry of Health and SHSKUK in establishing the IVF ward have reached the value of 1.9 million euros.

Regardless of when it will start to be applied, discussions on this procedure are expected to continue for some time, as a draft law on industrial health has remained pending.

It has passed its first reading in the Kosovo Assembly since 2023, but has not gone further, because some MPs have opposed the provisions, according to which all women can have access to IVF, regardless of their status - whether single, in a homosexual or heterosexual couple.

The justifications of these deputies have been that they "want to protect the institution of the family" - which has been opposed by representatives of human rights organizations. /REL/