The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has recommended that the compensation given to UK sperm and egg donors is raised for the first time in over a decade.
Sperm donors are in line to receive £10 more per donation, as the recommended rate for compensation rises from £35 to £45 per donation, following a decision made at an Authority Meeting of the HFEA on 20 March 2024. Egg donors will receive over £200 more, as the recommendation will raise compensation from £750 per egg donation cycle to £986. Fixed-sum, gamete donor compensation was introduced 2011, and the rate of compensation offered has remained unchanged since then (see BioNews 630).
'The Authority reviewed donor compensation last in 2011. This was compensation for sperm donors and egg donors. And the principles were established then that some financial compensation, small financial compensation, was appropriate given the commitment involved and that sort of stood the test of time,' Julia Chain, chair of the HFEA told the meeting.
'However, I think given increases in inflation the value of that compensation has been reduced quite considerably and I think we want to discuss and decide really whether an inflation-based increase for that compensation is appropriate.'
Inflation of 31.5 percent between 2012-13 and 2023-24 was calculated using Gross Domestic Product to calculate the new recommended rates. While the HFEA's recommendation applies to all fertility clinics in the UK, donors at Scottish NHS clinics can not claim compensation.
Donors, donor-conceived people and people working in the sector discussed the compensation cap for donors at a PET (Progress Educational Trust) event in September 2023 (see BioNews 1208), recommending it was raised to reflect inflation in light of the 'cost of living crisis'.
The proposed cap sought to maintain the value of the compensation decided upon in 2011, the HFEA meeting on 20 March 2024 heard.
HFEA meeting notes state it plans on making the change this year or next, 'as resources allow' and that it will require a change to general directions and the code of practice. It will review the compensation cap once every five years or when GDP inflation has gone over 10 percent.
HFEA also recommended that the compensation rate for overseas donors is brought in line with the new UK rates, noting this was not considered when the cap was first set in 2011.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.