Dubai Gynecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC) receives positive response from community for Amal initiative

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, February 11, 2013: The Dubai Gynecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC), the first government fertility center in the UAE and one of the leading establishments of its kind in the region, has received 100 enquiries since it announced that it will sponsor fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) etc needed by Emirati couples who are facing infertility problems.

The generosity is in line with the orders of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Known as the 'Amal' initiative which means hope, the DGFC, announced last month that will sponsor the cost of all cycles of fertility treatment needed for Emirati men and women who are suffering from infertility problems.

Since the announcement, the centre has received over 100 phone enquiries and the centre has begun assessing cases from this month.

His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, had earlier said: "We would like to thank His Highness for his generosity. This gesture will provide hope to families who were unable to seek infertility treatment earlier due to financial constraints.

"The DGFC is one of the pioneers in infertility treatment in the region and so far 3000 babies have been born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) provided at the centre."

Dr Fatma Musabih, Director of the Dubai Gynecology and Fertility Centre, said: "Of the 100 phone enquiries we received, some were congratulatory messages that poured in from people who thought this initiative was a noble way to assist young Emirati couples who need fertility treatment. Of the enquiries that were specifically related to treatment requests, we have begun assessment for the patients so that in future we can decide the course of treatment needed."

She said that on an average, per year, we have about 500 to 600 Emirati couples who are treated at the centre.

In terms of cost of treatment, Dr. Awatif Al Bahar, DGFC Medical Director and Consultant in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Endocrine Infertility at the Dubai Health Authority, said: "The approximate cost of one trial of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is Dh 22,000 and the cost for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is Dh 26,000. These are average charges of treatment and only cover the cost of medications, medical instruments and lab work involved. Being a government centre, our aim is not profit making, our prices are lower than the private sector because our aim is to serve the community."

She added that the most common cause of infertility in men is low sperm count and for women it is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which can be caused due to several reasons such as genetic predisposition, stress etc. "The important for couples is that there is hope. With advances in science and technology, fertility centres around the world have high success rates."

Al Bahar said that the pregnancy rates at the DGFC are at par with international standards. "For patients above 40 years the rate is 45 per cent and for women below 40 years it is 55 per cent."

Recollecting one of the success stories at the centre, Al Bahar said: "One of patients came to us and mentioned that she was trying to get pregnant for the last 30 years. Through assisted reproduction technology, she conceived last year and today she has a beautiful and healthy one-year old daughter and is now trying to get pregnant again."

Al Bahar said that the centre is the first in the Middle-East region to test patients for genetic disorders, including Thalassemia and other DNA related diseases. In addition the centre provides testing and treatment for patients with repeated miscarriages. "Earlier many of these women use to go overseas for treatment but since this testing facility is provided at the centre, they are now able to seek treatment while staying in the country, which is more convenient for them and their families."

Al Bahar said The DGFC centre was established in 1991 and in 2009 the centre relocated to its new premises in Dubai Healthcare City. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and has an operating theatre, laboratory, ultrasound machines etc. The centre provides the latest techniques in fertility management to couples in the UAE and the GCC region with a dedicated team of doctors and embryologists who are abreast with the latest practices in the field.

She added that the patient relations team consists of Arabic and English speaking staff, catering to different cultural needs.

For more information about DGFC, please call: +971 4 4393832 or +971 4 4393834.