site.btaContinue the Change Asks Finance Ministry to Explain Cut of Resources for In Vitro Procedures, Science

Continue the Change (CC) will table a request to the Finance Ministry for an urgent explanation why a decree cuts the funding for in vitro procedures as well as for scientific research and innovation to redirect the resources to farmers, the party's press centre said. According to CC, the goal of this move is to prevent protests by farmers.

The press release refers to a position by the Iskam Bebe Foundation that Decree No. 407 of the Council of Ministers of November 22 reduces the budget for assisted reproduction by BGN 2 million, which is described as yet another blow at the most vulnerable families in Bulgaria. According to CC, the decree is yet another outrageous decision by the caretaker government.

Also on Monday, the Health Ministry said in a press release in response to the Foundation's claim, that the Ministry has provided resources for all couples with reproductive problems who have applied for funding and meet the criteria. The funding will come from the budget of the Centre for Assisted Reproduction for 2024, which totals BGN 22 million, up by BGN 2 million from 2023. The BGN 2 million in resources taken through Decree Decree No. 407 come from a reserve under the central government budget, and are not part of the Centre's budget, the Health Ministry underscores.

In the first half of 2024 alone, 2,552 couples received financial assistance, compared to 2,426 in the first half of 2024, the Ministry said further. Following changes in the Rules of Organization and Activity of the Centre as of 2024, the funds allocated are BGN 6,000 per in vitro procedure, up by BGN 1,000. The increase for the other funded procedures is by some 20% on average.

At the end of the budgetary year, the Centre requested BGN 500,000 in additional funding, which have been provided under the Health Ministry's budget, thus covering all needs of the Centre for 2024. The total amount of payments within this year to cover the Centre's needs amount to BGN 22,500,000, the Health Ministry specifies.