New Polish centrist parliament considers reversing unpopular ban on in-vitro fertilization

Poland's new parliament has begun debating the reinstatement of government funding for in vitro fertilization (IVF) as its first legislation after the conservative party, which had previously banned it, lost control of the legislature in recent elections.

As reported by AP, the centrist majority in the new parliament, led by the former President of the European Council Donald Tusk, sees the reversing of the ban on reinstating IVF funding as symbolic as it marks the new leadership's first legislation and would be a significant decision for the democratic majority.

Many lawmakers belonging to the former ruling parliament's Law and Justice party left the chamber during the discussion to demonstrate their displeasure.

The debate reflects a shift in policies, as the outgoing right-wing and strongly Catholic government had banned government financial support for IVF in 2016, citing concerns about the procedure alleging it involved the destruction of human embryos.