Poland has welcomed the first baby born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) since the government reinstated public funding for the procedure. The landmark birth, announced by the health ministry on Wednesday, follows a policy reversal in 2024 that restored state support for IVF after it was cut in 2015.
The health ministry shared the news in a post on X, stating, “the first girl has been born as a result of the government’s IVF programme,” and calling it “an extraordinary moment that is proof of the progress and care for the health of families.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also celebrated the birth, saying in a video message, “We were all waiting for her, not just the happy parents,” and expressing hope that “their joy will be a good sign […] for all other couples.”
The decision to restore IVF funding was met with resistance from Polish conservatives, including Poland’s Catholic Church, which attempted to block the bill. Church leaders criticized IVF as “experimentation on man.” However, President Andrzej Duda, who signed the bill into law, defended the move as a response to Poland’s declining birth rate, which has become a growing demographic concern.
Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna provided an update on the program’s impact, revealing in an interview with broadcaster TOK FM that over 23,000 couples have qualified for IVF treatment, leading to 9,258 pregnancies.
