Infertility in developing countries: Funding the project

Abstract

Assisting developing countries in establishing infertility services is not a uniform exercise and depends on the stage of development of each country. Three levels of assistance are suggested: providing basic (level 1), advanced (level 2) or tertiary referral infertility services (level 3). At each of these levels, four activities are needed: equipping the clinics, training the staff, educating the public and running the services. Basic (level 1) clinics can be equipped by international donors, whereas level 2 and 3 clinics can be funded through a partnership between an international scientific body (WHO, ESHRE, etc.) and an international bank (World Bank, African Development Bank, etc.). Training of the medical and paramedical staff should be the responsibility of the non-profit organizations (NPOs) preferably in regional training centers. An awareness campaign is necessary to educate the public and inform them of the range of treatment available in their community and can also be funded by NPOs. Finally, the running cost of the services including the staff salaries, the cost of the investigations and medication should be the responsibility of the local government, although in many countries, this has to come from out of pocket payments. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.