Travel Arrangements for Those Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures Overseas But Whose Travel Have Been Restricted due to COVID-19

NOTICE PAPER NO. 785

NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 3 NOVEMBER 2021

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang

MP for Nee Soon GRC

Question No. 1966

To ask the Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry is providing assistance to those undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures overseas but have not been able to continue their treatment due to travel restrictions; and (b) whether the Ministry is considering setting up specific travel arrangements for them so that they can continue their treatment overseas.

Answer

         The Ministry of Health (MOH) has received appeals from couples who were unable to continue their assisted reproduction (AR) treatment overseas due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions, and seeking to import their stored gametes or embryos for treatment in Singapore instead. To support these couples, the Ministry established a process for such appeals to be submitted by the AR practitioners on behalf of their patients. This allows MOH to review such requests expeditiously and facilitate the importation of the gametes / embryos where appropriate.

         Fully vaccinated couples may use the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) to travel overseas to continue their AR treatment in these countries. Couples traveling to countries where no VTL arrangement has been set up will be subject to the quarantine requirements both abroad and locally. Alternatively, they may write in to MOH for us to review their request to import their gametes / embryos and continue with treatment locally.