Ministry allows Tel Aviv hospital to increase IVF treatments after a series of errors

The Health Ministry announces Thursday it will allow the Assuta Medical Center in Ramat Hahayal in Tel Aviv to increase the number of egg retrieval procedures performed per day at its in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic.

A limit on the number of embryo implantations it does has also been rescinded.

Following a series of disturbing errors at the IVF clinic that came to light earlier this year, the ministry barred it from accepting new patients and imposed a set of restrictions on its operations.

After a hearing, the hospital was ordered to limit the number of procedures (egg retrievals and embryo implantations combined) performed in the IVF department to 25 per day.

The Health Ministry also instructed the hospital to immediately search for and appoint an independent senior adviser to lead efforts to improve organizational culture around treatment safety, including “the proper and timely reporting of exceptional incidents.”

The Health Ministry reported today that Assuta has complied with the restrictions and improved its operations. In recognition of the high demand for IVF treatment, the clinic will now be permitted to perform 25 egg retrieval procedures per day and “as many embryo transfers as needed during the hours the IVF clinic is allowed to operate.”

The ministry said it would continue to closely monitor operations at Assuta “so that patients receive the best and safest treatment possible.”