Assisted reproductive technologies in centers for biomedical assisted fertilization within and outside the network plans in the Republic of Serbia and their financing

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are technologies that are used today, in the treatment of infertility, on human germ cells (oocytes and sperm) and embryos. Currently in the Republic of Serbia, there are various procedures of assisted reproduction technologies that are used to treat infertility in patients depending on medical indications. The availability of assisted reproduction technologies has been evolving over the years, and their application differs in biomedically assisted fertilization centers that are in the Network Plan (state institutions) and outside the Network Plan (private institutions). The aim of this article is to analyze available ART methods in Fertility centers within and outside the Network plan regulated by the Law on the Treatment of Infertility Procedures of Biomedical Assisted Fertilization (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", No. 72/2009), their financing and availability to patients in the Republic of Serbia. METHOD:This article is assembled upon seeking documents using the Internet and based on analyzed literature available on the Internet. RESULTS: The results were gathered by analyzing official ART centers' websites and analyzing available external secondary data from the National health insurance fund and the Institute for public health "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut". Fertility clinics in the Republic of Serbia have access to all the important technologies for ART. ART technologies funded by National health insurance fund include in vitro fertilitation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen embryo transfer. Patients whose medical indications require for some other technology may approach Fertility Centers outside the Network plan on their own budget. CONCLUSION: Based on the available and updated data we can conclude that Fertility centers in the Republic of Serbia have access to all the important technologies for ART. Fertility centers within the Network plan can implement only the technologies financed and invoiced by the Fund.