p.e.i. expanding fertility treatment funding program
3 minute read
p.e.i. health minister cory deagle holds a copy of little embryo big love, an ivf journal created to support people going through fertility treatment. deagle announced changes to the province’s fertility treatment funding program, including a lifetime benefit of up to $20,000 for eligible islanders.
vivian ulinwa
/
the guardian
p.e.i. is expanding its fertility treatment funding program, giving eligible islanders lifetime access to up to $20,000.
premier rob lantz and health and wellness minister cory deagle announced the funding tuesday at the queen elizabeth hospital in charlottetown.
the province says the changes are intended to make fertility treatment more flexible and accessible for island families.
changes to previous program
under the previous program, funding had to be used within a 12-month period. the new funding and announcement will removes that deadline.
the province is also removing income testing, meaning islanders can receive the funding regardless of their household income.
“many families never accessed the full amount of funding because it had to be, completed within one year,” deagle said.
“so this will allow it to happen over a longer, much longer, period of time and access all the funding.”
deagle said the changes came after the government heard from families and fertility advocates about problems with the previous program. the province is committing $705,000 in budget 2026 to accommodate the program changes.
deagle said nearly 340 applicants have received approximately $1.5 million in support since the program began in 2023.
12-month limit removed
dr. johan viljoen, chief medical officer for health p.e.i. and an obstetrician-gynecologist, said the previous 12-month limit did not reflect how fertility treatment works.
“fertility treatment doesn’t follow a calendar year,” he said.
patients may need to stop treatment, change treatment plans or take time to recover between cycles, he said.
under the previous system, patients could lose access to their remaining funding when the calendar year ended.
“the patient is now able to have more flexibility in terms of funding,” viljoen said. “i cannot tell you how important that is going to be for our patients.”
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associated costs
viljoen said fertility treatment can also bring significant costs beyond the treatment itself.
patients may have to pay for medications, travel, time away from work and child care, particularly because some fertility services require islanders to travel off-island.
dr. johan viljoen, chief medical officer for health p.e.i., was at the queen elizabeth hospital in charlottetown on tuesday, aug. 18, to take part in the province’s announcement of changes to its fertility treatment funding program.
vivian ulinwa
/
the guardian
deagle said the province is also looking at whether more fertility-related services could eventually be provided in p.e.i.
he said health p.e.i. is examining the possibility of providing services such as blood work and ultrasounds locally for patients receiving treatment at clinics outside the province.
however, he said providing those services locally is complicated and would require the appropriate resources.
“this is something that health p.e.i. is looking at,” deagle said.
viljoen said providing some fertility monitoring services on the island would be a “very logical next step.”
longtime advocate
the announcement was welcomed by backbench mla susie dillon, who has advocated for increased fertility support for several years.
p.e.i. mla susie dillon speaks to reporters at the queen elizabeth hospital in charlottetown on tuesday, aug. 18, following the province’s announcement of changes to its fertility treatment funding program. dillon has advocated for increased fertility support for islanders.
vivian ulinwa
/
the guardian
dillon said the additional funding could make the difference between a family being able to pursue fertility treatment and not being able to afford it.
“i think it’s the difference of being able to do it and not,” she said.
dillon said she became involved in advocating for fertility care because she wanted people who hoped to have children to have the opportunity to start a family.
the province also announced that it will provide a copy of an ivf journal to everyone who enters the fertility funding program.
the journal, little embryo big love, was created by michelle neighbours, whose family has personal experience with ivf. it includes space to track appointments, medications, important information, emotions and milestones throughout the treatment process.
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deagle initially said neighbours planned to donate 25 copies to people entering the program. he then said that his department will provide a copy to every person who accesses the program.
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vivian ulinwa is a reporter for the guardian in prince edward island. she can be reached at vulinwa@postmedia.com and followed on x @vivian_ulinwa.
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