New Shanghai policy seeks to encourage childbirth

Individuals struggling with fertility who seek assisted reproductive treatment in Shanghai will have their medical bills partly reimbursed by the city's public medical insurance fund starting on June 1, according to a recent policy encouraging people to have more children.

Of the 17 assisted reproductive treatment procedures offered in the city, 12 of them — including egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, screenings for high-quality sperm, artificial insemination, embryo culture and embryo transfer — will be included on the medical insurance list, according to the policy announced by the Shanghai Healthcare Security Administration on Wednesday.

This means individuals will only need to bear around 30 percent of the costs, which will make the treatments more affordable for those who are eager to become parents but are having difficulties with conception.