Ferring reports ‘inequality’ of access to fertility treatment in Europe

Ferring Pharmaceuticals has claimed there exists an inequality of access to fertility treatment across Europe, while noting the results of public policy research showing that a widening of access to this treatment can have a beneficial effect on society.

The company reported the meeting this week of experts in medicine, politics and demographics from around the world to debate on the ongoing challenges presented by an ageing population and its attendant social and economic effects.

It adds that economic analyses conducted in Europe show that broadening the access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to aid infertile couples obtain their wanted family size is a cost-effective method of addressing the issue of an ageing population compared to other approaches.

Dr Dirk Schneider, medical director of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ferring, commented that the firm is dedicated to providing couples who are infertile with the opportunity of having a family through the provision of novel treatment options.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to ART, we are proud to support the State of the ART conference which has brought together stakeholders from a variety of disciplines focused on one common goal – improve patient care and access to treatment for infertility.”

In March 2007, a study from researchers in Denmark revealed that couples in which both partners are obese are three times as likely to wait over a year to achieve pregnancy.