A total of 327 million kronor will be spent on additional IVF attempts. Currently, the regions offer three publicly funded IVF attempts for the first child; additional attempts must be paid for by the individual. An average treatment costs upwards of 50,000 kronor.
The spring supplementary budget proposes allocating money for three additional publicly funded attempts.
"This enables a total of approximately 6,000 extra attempts in addition to those taking place today, and it's about the possibility of having a first child," says Minister of Energy and Industry Ebba Busch (KD).
More attempts this fall?
The government does not say exactly when people who are involuntarily childless will start being offered more attempts.
"We cannot force the regions to offer this opportunity. But once we have made the decision, the regions can receive compensation if they offer these three extra attempts," says Minister of Health Elisabet Lann (KD).
The Riksdag is expected to make a decision on the spring supplementary budget in June, and further attempts cannot be offered before then.
Ahead of the summer, the government is also proposing a special investment to strengthen staffing at health centres and hospitals. This involves 250 million kronor, which can be used, for example, for temporary and agency staff.
Elisabet Lann admits that "it's not a lot of money" considering that there are 21 regions that will share the sum.
"But since it's only for a limited time, it will be 7,500 nurses, and that's quite a lot, you could say," she says.
Vaccines for the elderly
The government is also proposing a "vaccination package" for the elderly worth 112 million kronor. The largest portion will go towards accelerating the introduction of a catch-up pneumococcal vaccination.
Those covered are anyone over the age of 65 who has not yet been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease or who was previously vaccinated with a pneumococcal vaccine that requires a booster.
"The ambition is that vaccinations can begin as quickly as possible, already in the autumn," says Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD).
