Singapore Hospitals Increase IVF Capacity Amid Rising Demand
Public hospitals in Singapore are expanding their in-vitro fertilization (IVF) services due to increased demand from couples seeking medical assistance to conceive. Over 10,500 assisted reproductive technology cycles were performed in 2022.
Singapore's public hospitals are increasing their capacity for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments to meet a growing demand from couples seeking medical help to have children. In 2022, approximately 10,500 assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles were performed in the country, marking a 14 percent rise from 2020.
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) are set to progressively increase their ART treatment capacity over the next few years. National University Hospital (NUH) enhanced its IVF laboratory capacity in 2022 through renovations. Upon completion of these expansions, the combined ART capacity across the three major hospitals is expected to grow by about 20 percent.
Medical professionals attribute the rise in demand to several factors, including greater public awareness and acceptance of IVF, as well as couples marrying at later ages. As fertility naturally declines with age, more couples require assisted conception methods. In 2022, the median age for first marriages was 29.3 years for women and 30.7 years for men.
Government financial support also plays a role, with the state co-funding up to 75 percent of costs for eligible couples undergoing ART at public centers, up to a specified limit for fresh and frozen cycles. The estimated cost for a single fresh IVF cycle at KKH can range from S$12,000 to S$16,000 before subsidies.