The Government will help couples who need funds for in vitro procedures, Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said after meeting NGOs working in the field of in vitro procedures on October 20 2009.

The fund set up by the previous cabinet to finance in vitro procedures, lacked the resources  to do so, Borissov said.

The fund had only half the 20 million leva promised by the previous cabinet, Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov said. The new Government, however, would allocate 8.2 million leva in 2009 so that couples who have reproductive problems can take advantage of the fund, Dyankov said.

"In 2010 the funds will be allocated month by month," Borissov said, noting that about 160 000 couples in Bulgaria had reproductive problems. An average of 400 women made in vitro procedures every month. This means that the fund will need about two million leva a month. "Adding the cost of medical tests and research, the sum adds to 24 million leva in 2010," Borissov said.

Among the documents required for using the in vitro procedures sourced by the fund are a consent form agreeing to abide by the fund's conditions, a declaration containing personal data of both the woman and her partner as well as the nationality and marital status of the parties concerned.

Before filing an application, the woman should have selected a medical centre to perform the procedure. The centre would have to be accredited by the Health Ministry and authorised to perform this type of operation.

Documents for the application for funding can be submitted in person or by post to Fund Assisted Reproduction, 15 Acad. Ivan Geshov Boulevard, floor 11, room 36, Sofia 1431, as well as at the Health Ministry at 5 Sveta Nedelya Street in Sofia.

More information was available via telephone numbers 02/ 895 3146, 02/ 895 3148.