IVF funding in Cyprus. Plan for the fifth attempt and higher subsidies.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) funding in Cyprus will cover five attempts, up from the current four. The Ministry of Health is also proposing €4,500 in support for each attempt, with no reduction in the amount for subsequent treatment cycles.

This is a preview of changes, not an official announcement of new rules. Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides announced on November 6 that the proposal will soon be submitted to the Council of Ministers. The ministry's draft budget for 2027 allocates €7 million for a program to support infertility treatment.

In vitro funding in Cyprus – what is going to change?

The announcement was made during the presentation of the Ministry of Health's budget to the parliamentary finance committee. The ministry wants to expand the number of subsidized trials and standardize the amount of aid.

These are two separate changes. The first would add a fifth attempt to the program. The second would increase support for subsequent procedures, as the current limits are not uniform.

Under the current program, the first full procedure can receive funding of up to €4,500, the second up to €3,500, and the third and fourth procedures each receive €2,500. The full procedure includes egg collection, fertilization, and embryo transfer.

More help also on subsequent attempts

Unifying the amount could be important for people who need more than one treatment cycle. According to the ministry's announcement, subsequent trials would no longer involve a gradual reduction in the co-payment.

Therefore, the proposal should not be presented solely as adding one attempt while maintaining the current financial rules. The Ministry also announces a move away from lower support amounts in the second, third and fourth cycles.

Savia Orphanidou, chairwoman of the parliamentary health committee and DISY MP, advocated for the program's expansion during the budget debate. She pointed to the need to increase financial assistance and extend it to the fifth phase.

Seven million euros in the draft budget

According to the minister, the infertility treatment support program is to be continued in 2027. €7 million has been allocated for it.

The amount applies to the entire program, not just the cost of adding a fifth attempt. It also doesn't allow for a definitive determination of how many people will receive assistance—this depends, among other things, on the type of procedures being billed and compliance with program conditions.

Since when are the new rules?

No firm launch date for the expanded program has yet been announced. The mere inclusion of funds in the draft 2027 budget does not mean that a fifth attempt is already available or that the change will automatically apply to previously completed procedures.

People planning treatment should check the applicable terms and conditions before making financial commitments. The government's final decision should clarify the implementation date of the changes, how previous attempts will be counted, and how support will be calculated.