A leading fertility expert has called for the taxpayer to subsidise IVF treatment for couples who experience difficulty having children.

Dr Mary Wingfield, director of the Merrion Fertility Clinic in Dublin, that such couples are being forced to borrow money to avail of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment due to the lack of financial support from the State for the therapy.

She said yesterday it wasn’t acceptable anymore that the Government failed to help infertile couples, the Irish Times reported.

“Most other European countries have state funding now. All the Scandinavian countries have it, so has France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.”

People who were unemployed, and even many working couples, could not afford the price of an IVF cycle, which can cost up to €5,000.

Dr Wingfield said: “I suppose there is a perception that IVF treatment is a luxury and not really necessary. We need to change that perception. [Fertility problems are] defined by the WHO as a disease and it’s a definite medical problem that has a very good medical treatment.”

Around one in six couples have fertility problems and the Merrion clinic sees about 500 couples a year, half of whom go on to try IVF. Less than 10 per cent of those who try it are subsidised Medical Card patients.

Dr Wingfield also pointed out that Ireland was now among only three European countries – the others being Poland and Romania – with no legislation around IVF.

“We have been hearing from the Department of Health that legislation is on the way but we are tired hearing that. We really need it now,” she said.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said it hopes to finalise policy proposals to regulate the area early next year.

The Merrion clinic does offer treatment to some Medical Card holders at 20 per cent of the cost normally paid by private patients, while the Hari (Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland) unit at the Rotunda Hospital treats some Medical Card holders for free. But Dr Wingfield said this means the clinics are being made “to play God” deciding which Medical card holders get treatment.