VB100 Assisted Reproductive Technology Industry Development Forum: How Policy Support Cultivates New Opportunities in Fertility Care?
Driven by the decline in birth rates, the accelerating trend of population aging, and the year-on-year increase in infertility prevalence, China has issued a series of multi-dimensional guidelines and development policies for the assisted reproductive technology (ART) industry, covering aspects such as technical access and cost reimbursement. These measures have standardized and guided the market, thereby promoting industry development.
In August 2021, the National Healthcare Security Administration issued a policy ensuring that medications used throughout the entire assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle—including down-regulation drugs, ovulation induction agents, ovulation-triggering medications, and luteal phase support drugs—are covered by medical insurance. The inclusion of ovulation induction and other related drugs in the medical insurance scheme means that the financial burden on couples undergoing ART will be reduced by more than one-third, thereby helping to increase the penetration rate of assisted reproductive services. Since the release of the "Guiding Opinions on Further Improving and Implementing Active Fertility Support Measures" in August 2022, relevant authorities in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Jingmen have introduced supportive policies. These measures, such as special subsidies and medical insurance reimbursements, have effectively lowered the cost burden for infertility patients seeking ART, thereby stimulating demand for assisted reproductive services. According to data from Frost & Sullivan, the penetration rate of assisted reproductive technology in China was only 7% in 2018 and is projected to rise to 7.8% in 2021. With the United States serving as a benchmark at a 32% penetration rate, China still has an untapped market potential exceeding RMB 700 billion.
While a beacon of light on the horizon brings development opportunities, the current market also presents numerous challenges. This forum will be divided into three segments: interpretation of market policies, innovation across the upstream and downstream market, and support for the market ecosystem. It will explore and summarize the opportunities and challenges related to the domestication of assisted reproductive technology (ART) devices and pharmaceuticals, strategies for ART institutions to improve success rates, cross-border ART services, and the integration of commercial insurance with ART.
I. Forum Highlights:
(I) Technology Empowerment: Hotspots and Advances in Cutting-Edge Innovative Technologies
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), as an emerging discipline, has undergone rapid development in recent decades, achieving continuous breakthroughs in the field of human reproductive health. In recent years, to enhance reproductive health outcomes and improve the quality of the newborn population, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET), and cell-based therapies have become key areas of focus for reproductive specialists. Furthermore, innovations and upgrades in related medical devices, aimed at improving the success rate, coverage, and accessibility of ART, also warrant significant attention. This forum not only establishes a platform for exchange within the assisted reproduction sector but also focuses on current international frontiers and hot topics. It will feature discussions and interpretations on China’s demographic issues, cutting-edge technological innovations, and clinical case studies, aiming to deliver insightful perspective sharing and interactive dialogue.
(II) Data Foundation: Patient-Centric Approach to Closing the Service Loop
Improving the reproductive health service system and enhancing the quality and level of services are crucial components of strengthening national health security and building a Healthy China. Currently, the domestic assisted reproductive technology (ART) market is still in its early stages, with few institutions offering related services and products. Facing this vast "potential blue ocean," many enterprises, including medical companies and tertiary healthcare institutions, are actively positioning themselves and competing for market share. However, compared to developed regions in Europe and the United States, China has a lower penetration rate of ART services and an uneven distribution of resources. In this context, operational capabilities and physician teams are more critical than the number of licenses held. Medical informatics empowers the development of ART by establishing an "online-to-offline" closed-loop service system centered on reproductive medicine, specialized outpatient care, and assisted reproduction, thereby providing one-stop solutions to meet patients' diagnostic and treatment needs. The forum will also invite innovative enterprises to share insights on how medical informatics empowers and drives innovative development in the ART industry.
(3) Service Enhancement:Commercial Health Insurance Taps into the Assisted Reproductive Technology Market
Last year,National Health Commission, National Development and Reform Commission, etc.Seventeen departments issued the "Guiding Opinions on Further Improving and Implementing Positive Fertility Support Measures," proposing to gradually include appropriate labor analgesia and assisted reproductive technology (ART) services in the scope of fund coverage through established procedures. This marks the first time that the National Health Commission has explicitly stated that ART services will be included in the basic medical insurance fund reimbursement list through established procedures, thereby providing support to the field of assisted reproduction.Numerous insurance companies have fully leveraged the advantages of commercial insurance, innovating products and services. By targeting the specific needs and treatment characteristics of patients with infertility, they have developed tailored insurance solutions to alleviate patients’ medical financial burden.The forum will also invite insurance companies to share their insights.
II.Forum Introduction
Forum Time:May 5–7, 2023
Forum Venue:Shanghai · Zhangjiang Science Hall
Forum Organizer:VB100, VCBeat, Eggshell Research Institute
Forum Name:Forum on the Development of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Industry
Corporate Representatives in Attendance:Aweifu
※ Listed in alphabetical order by company name; rankings are not indicative of priority. Additional companies are being confirmed.
Forum Agenda Planning:
Accelerating Substitution: Key Innovation Focus Areas for Domestically Produced Assisted Reproductive Technology Devices
Focusing on Reproductive Genetics: Genetic Testing Supports Eugenics and Healthy Childbearing
Opportunities and Challenges Facing Assisted Reproductive Technology Devices
Seizing First-Mover Opportunities in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Sector: How to Expand Your Advantage?
※Preliminary agenda items are for reference only; final agenda items are subject to on-site confirmation.
