Conceivable Dreams - Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conceivable Dreams Calls on Political Parties to Support OHIP Coverage of IVF $400 - $550 million in savings to the healthcare system could be reinvested in other services

TORONTO, ON (September 8, 2011)- Conceivable Dreams today challenged all three Ontario political parties to demonstrate a true commitment to families, leadership in healthcare and fiscal prudence by supporting OHIP coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a policy they say has proven it works in Québec.

"Support for working families, healthcare and the economy are emerging as the major themes of this election and OHIP coverage of IVF supports all three," says Joanne Horibe of Conceivable Dreams, a grassroots patient organization representing thousands of infertile couples and their supporters across Ontario. "It helps infertile couples realize their dream of building a family, it gives IVF babies a better start in life and it has the potential to deliver healthcare cost savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars."

In Ontario, where the cost of IVF is not covered by OHIP, most couples choose to transfer multiple embryos rather than a single embryo. As a result, the rate of multiple births from IVF in Ontario is roughly 28% compared to below 10% in other jurisdictions. Multiples are 17 times more likely to be born pre-term, to require a caesarean delivery and to need expensive care at birth and throughout their lives.

In 2009, the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption recommended that the province of Ontario fund up to 3 cycles of in-vitro fertilization and adopt policies that reduce the number of multiple pregnancies through IVF. The panel estimated that the savings to the healthcare system through a reduction in the number of multiple births through IVF would be between $400 million and $550 million.

In August 2010, Québec became the first jurisdiction in Canada to publicly fund comprehensive IVF treatments. One year later, it has become a leader in the reduction of multiple pregnancies by bringing the rate down from 27.2% to 5.2%.

"With one of the highest rates of multiple births through IVF in the country and a need to control healthcare costs, Ontario simply cannot afford not to fund IVF," added Horibe. "What has worked in Québec can work in Ontario. Providing OHIP funding for IVF would reduce our rate of multiples through IVF and generate cost savings that could be reinvested in other healthcare services that are important to Ontarians.

During this campaign, Conceivable Dreams will be seeking a commitment from all three political parties to provide OHIP coverage of IVF. Its members across Ontario will be asking all candidates where they stand on this issue and will support the candidates and parties that support OHIP funding for IVF.

For more information or to speak with a member of Conceivable Dreams, please contact:

Lauren Bondar
Fleishman-Hillard
416.645.8190
lauren.bondar@fleishman.ca
www.twitter.com/LaurenBondar

About Conceivable Dreams

Conceivable Dreams, the OHIP for IVF Coalition is the provincial voice for thousands of infertility sufferers and their supporters across Ontario. Our goal is to have OHIP coverage of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) reinstated by the Ontario government. For more information, please visit: http://www.conceivabledreams.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

73% of Ontarians believe province should fund in-vitro fertilization Support is highest among women and those with children

TORONTO, ON – Tuesday, September, 13- New survey results released today show that more than 70 per cent of Ontarians believe the province should adopt a similar policy as Québec for funding in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

"These results show that a majority of Ontarians get the argument behind public funding of IVF," said Joanne Horibe of Conceivable Dreams, a grassroots patient organization representing thousands of infertile couples across Ontario. "Even if they can't all relate, they understand that it makes good economic sense. What's more, they now look to Québec as proof it works."

Today, one in six Ontario couples struggle with infertility. IVF is often their best and only treatment option. However, since IVF costs on average $10,000 per treatment cycle, including medications, many couples choose to implant more than one embryo. As a result, Ontarians using IVF are 10 times more likely to have a multiple birth than those who do not. Unfortunately, multiples are 17 times more likely to be born pre-term, to require a caesarean delivery and to need expensive care at birth and throughout their lives.

Québec faced a similar problem until, in 2010, they decided to publicly fund IVF and link it to a policy of single embryo transfer. In addition to helping more couples realize their dream of starting a family, Québec was able to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies from 27.2% down to just 5.2% in just six months. It is now on track to save tens of millions of dollars as the number of twins and triplets in neonatal intensive care units begins to drop significantly

New Survey Data:

73 per cent of Ontarians surveyed agree that Ontario should adopt a policy of publicly funding IVF treatments that is similar to Québec's.
63 per cent of Ontarians surveyed agree that Ontario families should have some form of public coverage for fertility treatments.
Within the general public, support for some form of coverage was highest among those with children at 71 per cent and women at 68 per cent.
55 per cent agree that cost should not be a barrier to infertile couples who need assistance with reproduction.

During Canadian Infertility Awareness Week in May, Ontarians suffering with infertility met with several Ontario MPP's of all stripes who spoke favourably to funding fertility, specifically IVF. However, none of the party platforms include a commitment to implement the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption, which found that $400-$550 million in healthcare savings could be realized through the public funding of fertility.

"Given the 71 per cent support among those who are parents, it's obvious that there is strong support among couples who have been able to conceive naturally," added Horibe. "No doubt they appreciate the challenge in building a family and the reward when your dream comes true. During this election, we're asking for their support in making our dreams a reality as well."

Over the course of the Ontario election, Conceivable Dreams and its supporters will be asking all candidates where they stand on funding of IVF and whether they will commit to helping 1 in 6 Ontarians create families in a safe way that helps reduce costs to the healthcare system.

For more information or to speak with a member of Conceivable Dreams, please contact:

Lauren Bondar
Fleishman-Hillard
416.645.8190
lauren.bondar@fleishman.ca
www.twitter.com/LaurenBondar

About Conceivable Dreams

For more information, please visit - http://www.conceivabledreams.org and visit Conceivable Dreams on Facebook and on Twitter - www.twitter.com/OHIP4IVF

About Leger Marketing

Leger Marketing is the leading Canadian owned market research and polling firm with more than 600 professionals working from its Canadian and American offices.

The survey was completed on-line from Monday, August 29 – Wednesday, August 31 using Leger Marketing's Online Panel – LegerWeb.