Dynamic reactivation of the National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction.

The Authority considers as immediate priorities the ensuring of the proper operation of IVF Units and the easy access of patients to secure IVF services.

Athens 15 October 2014

The restart of the National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction was announced by the president Prof. Aristidis Antsaklis in a Press Conference today in the Ministry of Health.

Displaying the current situation in our country as far as Assisted Reproduction is concerned, Members of the Authority referred to the importance of fulfilling the scopes of the Authority. In Greece there are 67 IVF Units that should be checked and licensed promptly complying with the criteria described in the Greek law. There is a special software under construction that is going to be used for the interconnection of the Authority with all IVF Units so as for therapeutical procedures to which infertile couples are submitted, to be reported in actual time. This way there will be full traceability of the biological material as well as prevention of possible undesirable incidents as defined by the relative European guidelines.

Amongst the highest priorities of the National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction during 2014 is the full recording and evaluation of the approximately 15.000 cycles of IVF that take place every year in Greece. The objective of the recording is the protection and the impartial briefing of the citizens that seek IVF services in relation to the success rates of the IVF Units. The Authority wishing to offer good service to the public, is to issue promptly special license in cases of seropositive patients, surrogate mothership and use of biologic material after death for childbirth.

The recent legal interference of the Authority as far as the highest number of fertilized eggs in groups of assisted people depending on their age and their medical data, is of crucial importance. The aim of this limitation is to confine multi pregnancies that may have risks both for newborns and for mothers. Limiting high risk pregnancies has been common practice for most European countries over a decade. In Greece it was recently applied by Law 2589/2014.

When asked by reporters, the representatives of the Authority referred to the growing demand for crossborder treatment of infertile foreign couples. The Authority is positive to attracting foreign couples for treatment in our country. This is due to the elevated scientific level of Greek Units of Assisted Reproduction combined with the liberal and modern legal frame in Greece. In any case the representatives of the Authority highlight how important is for IVF Units to function within the bioethical and scientific frame defined by law.

The President of the National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction mentioned that the reactivation of the Authority as well as its highly regulatory role is going to guarantee the proper function and the competition on ethical grounds among IVF Units. The Authority is going to contribute to making systemic improvements which will be useful first of all to people wishing to become parents.