How fertility treatment can be made affordable in Kenya

Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility remain inaccessible to many couples, mostly as a result of the high costs and limited availability.

In vitro fertilisation for instance, a type of assisted reproductive technology that involves the fertilisation of eggs with sperm in a laboratory setting, could cost between Sh400, 000 and Sh600, 000 for a single treatment cycle.

The direct medical costs for a single round of IVF are often higher than the average annual income, yet for a pregnancy to successfully occur through the procedure, couples have to go through multiple treatment cycles.

With the average income standing at about Sh50,000 a month, this in essence means that the majority of couples in Kenya experiencing infertility challenges, cannot afford IVF treatment.

As the world marks the International Women’s Day, interventions to lower the cost of the procedure will go a long way in enabling couples experiencing infertility challenges to get treatment.

Read: Improving pregnancy success odds using IVF

For instance, including IVF in medical insurance covers could help to bring down the cost of treatment, thus preventing Kenyan couples from running into poverty due to out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Insurance companies can design simple and cost-effective insurance products, that cater to the needs of specific customer segments, such as those who are at the bottom of the pyramid.

Government can establish public financing models to ensure that even those living below the poverty line, are able to get infertility treatment using IVF medical insurance covers.

Relevant authorities can integrate insurance education in core school curriculum, to enable the general public to understand how insurance works and thus boost uptake.

Private sector employers can adopt medical insurance products that offer IVF treatment, to alleviate the financial burden their employees face while seeking treatment.

While this will mean that companies will have to set aside extra budgets for the medical covers, the potential rewards of adopting such products could far outweigh the costs.

Beyond the financial component, offering IVF coverage could lead to increased job satisfaction, reduced absenteeism, as well as improved morale and productivity.

With employees increasingly seeking employers who prioritise their overall well-being, offering IVF coverage could also help organisations to attract and retain top talent, in today's competitive job market,

The writer is the Care Manager, First Assurance Company Limited