Zenica Continues to Treat Infertility for War Victims and Disabled Persons

ZENICA, (Patria) - The Federal Ministry of Health has extended the approval for the Cantonal Hospital in Zenica, allowing it to provide assisted reproduction services / infertility treatment / to victims of the recent war in BiH, which will be financed by the Solidarity Fund of the Federation of BiH. Disabled persons will also receive the same service.

Head of the Centre for Assisted Reproduction, doc. dr. med. sc. Ermin Čehić, says in an interview with the Patria agency that the Centre has had such a solution since 2005, but it has now been renewed.

“Only top institutions that perform the most complex forms of healthcare, so-called tertiary healthcare, have such solutions, for example, the Heart Centre in Tuzla,” says Dr. Čehić.

In Serbia, the process of freezing embryos at the state's expense for in vitro fertilization is being introduced, so that women do not have to undergo hormone therapy, which can be very unpleasant for women. What is the situation in BiH? Does the state participate in these processes, and to what extent?

Dr. Čehić: The new Law on Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR), adopted by both houses of the Federal Parliament, provides for so-called “long-term cryopreservation” of gametes and embryos in certain cases. For now, this applies only to specific categories of patients (e.g., oncological patients), but the Law also provides for the establishment of a Commission within the Federal Ministry of Health that can discuss individual requests, including requests for cryopreservation of gametes and embryos for so-called social indications.

In which clinics in BiH is embryo freezing performed? What is the general cost of embryo freezing?

Dr. Čehić: Long-term cryopreservation of embryos is provided only in public institutions. Specifically, our Centre for Assisted Reproduction performs long-term cryopreservation of embryos and gametes for the entire BiH, as well as for countries in the region. The cost is still symbolic and amounts to 500 KM for 5 years of embryo or gamete cryopreservation.

Since the duration of embryo freezing varies from country to country, for example, 10 years in England, what is the period in BiH?

Dr. Čehić: The new Law on MAR provides for cryopreservation for up to 5 years, with the possibility of extending the cryopreservation period depending on each individual case.

People are afraid of this process, although, according to literature, a frozen embryo is as effective as a fresh embryo transfer. What are the advantages of embryo freezing?

Dr. Čehić: Numerous randomized studies worldwide have proven that there are no differences or consequences after freezing embryos or gametes. The advantages are individual and it is not a procedure that should be applied generally. For example, the patient's age, less use of hormonal therapy, the possibility of having children even after chemotherapy or radiation therapy, etc.

It was said that egg cells and sperm would be frozen for couples who are known to have infertility problems. Does this work in BiH?

Dr. Čehić: It works, and it is provided for in the new Law on MAR. This primarily applies to patients suffering from malignant diseases who must undergo treatment for their malignant disease, either through chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Of course, the Law provides that the Commission can discuss and make proposals for each individual case, which greatly reduces the possibility of someone being deprived of a fundamental human right, which is the right to have children.