Polish First Lady Maria Kaczynska has expressed support of in vitro fertilisation, but rejected the idea of refunding the procedure from the state’s budget.

In an interview for the Internet edition of Wprost weekly the President’s wife said that she understands the tragedy of people who can’t have children. That is why she is in favour of IVF, which may be the only chance for them of starting a family.

The First Lady argued, however, that in vitro fertilisation shouldn’t be refunded by the state in view of the bad financial shape of the Polish health care system.

Maria Kaczynska’s opinion is in opposition to views of the part of the Polish clergy, who are against the procedure entirely and call the method ‘an abortion in disguise’.

The issue of IVF became a controversial topic in Poland after Health Minister Ewa Kopacz of Civic Platform introduced the idea of reimbursing the procedure from the state budget. Poland’s largest opposition party Law and Justice strongly opposed this project. (jm) (photo: Jakub Szymczuk)