The draft law on reproductive health and medically assisted insemination has ignited new discussions in Kosovo, for and against. The draft law aims to guarantee the reproductive right of the individual when the desired pregnancy is not achieved naturally.

Xhevdet Pozhari, external advisor to the Ministry of Health, speaking on the TV show KallxoPërnime on Tuesday, said that there were exactly 7 thousand 224 cases of  IVF [In Vitro Fertilization] in Kosovo in the past.

“These data are only within the private institutions of the country, we do not have information on how many cases have been carried out abroad. These cases have cost about 30 million euros over 6 years, which if we divide per year, our citizens have paid 5 million euros per year for these procedures,” said Pozhari.

A department for IVF treatment is still not functional in public institutions. Citizens go to private clinics to receive this service, or to clinics abroad.

Pozhari added that more than 1 million euros have been allocated to start implementing a dedicated ward within the Gynecology Clinic at University Clinical Center in Prishtina.

Merita Vuthaj, head of the group for drafting the new law within the Ministry of Health said that the draft legislation creates a legal basis for the operation of all institutions performing medically assisted fertilization in Kosovo, including the public one.

“There are 8 private institutions that have this service” Vuthaj said, adding that public institutions do not have the resources to provide IVF. 

Medically assisted fertilization costs 3 to 4 thousand euros in these private clinics.

Vuthaj said that based on their calculations, since 2016, over 7,000 cases of IVF in 8 private clinics were reported. It is estimated that these clinics received up to 28 million euros  — 4,000 euros for one procedure.

Last week, the draft law sparked a debate among MPs in the Assembly.

Vetëvendosje deputy, Saranda Bugujevci, said that while she was not married and did not have a partner, she had thought of becoming a mother based on what “science offered,” referring to artificial fertilization.

“The time has come to let women be comfortable and decide for themselves without compromising social values,” she said in the Assembly session.

Her fellow party member, MP Eman Rrahmani, said that the draft law on reproductive health and medically assisted fertilization should be revised, because according to him, it violates the family values he says he is committed to.

On other hand, Minister of Health Arben Vitia, said that the draft law does not conflict with the Family Law, the Health Law, or the Civil Code.