Fertility treatment ban on Thomson Medical lifted for 4 months
After an eight-month suspension, Thomson Fertility Centre, which was involved in an in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) mix-up last year, can finally take in new patients again.
Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed that suspension for Thomson Medical Centre (TMC) - which manages Thomson Fertility Centre - had been lifted from June 23 for a period of four months.
During this period, TMC will be able to initiate fresh fertility treatments.
The MOH spokesperson said: "TMC will be audited again prior to the end of the four-month period to ensure their continued compliance before they are allowed to continue providing fresh Assisted Reproduction treatment cycles."
Thomson Fertility Centre made the headlines last November following a botched IVF procedure which saw another man's sperm being accidentally used to impregnate one of its patients.
MOH had then suspended all new Assisted Reproduction treatment cycles at the centre.
In June, TMC was slapped with a fine of S$20,000 for breaching a condition of its MOH licence by processing two semen specimens at a single time.
The facility also failed to discard, after each step of processing, the disposable pipettes which are used to hold liquids.
The centre had instead labelled and kept them in a rack for use in subsequent steps in the process involving the same patient.
A TMC spokesperson said "more stringent governance has been put in place and we will continue to closely monitor our processes".
She added: "Our patients have remained very understanding and supportive of Thomson Fertility Centre. We are grateful to them for their encouragement and will continue to work hard for them."
In April, MOH updated its guidelines on Assisted Reproduction services, which include changes such as the need for a proper inventory and having two authorised embryologists at a fertility centre.