The government is planning to provide IVF and related fertility treatment at Mater Dei Hospital by the end of this year, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said in parliament this evening.

Replying to questions by Nationalist MP Joe Cassar, the minister denied that IVF services have already started being offered unofficially and said a structure, including the setting up of the Embryo Protection Authority, still had to be put in place.

He complained that although the  Embryo Protection law was enacted last year, no funds were allocated for its implementation.

Dr Farrugia said he saw no conflict of interest in the fact that a person in his secretariat’s customer care, but who is still an employee of Mater Dei Hospital, was helping in specialised follicle tracking.

Tests were under way for potential parents who were already on the hospital’s lists. Dr Farrugia denied that patients were being sent to Mater Dei for these tests from private hospitals and clinics without files.