The UK Government has warned people about the risks of undergoing fertility treatment in Turkish-occupied north Cyprus, citing differences in regulation between clinics there and those in the UK.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for Cyprus on Friday, specifically highlighting fertility treatment in the Turkish-occupied north of the island.
The Turkish-occupied north has become increasingly popular for medical tourism, with fertility treatment reportedly costing around half the price of private treatment in the UK.
However, the UK Government warned that treatment there “carries risks” because clinics do not operate under the same regulatory framework as those in the UK.
The updated guidance advises people considering treatment to conduct thorough research beforehand and directs them to information from the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
The warning follows concerns raised in April, when several British patients claimed fertility clinics in Turkish-occupied north Cyprus had given them the wrong sperm or egg donors.
An investigation reported that most of the affected families subsequently took DNA tests that confirmed their concerns.
Different Legal Framework
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, and EU law applies in the Republic of Cyprus. However, EU legislation remains suspended in the Turkish-occupied north, which the Republic of Cyprus does not control.
The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) currently administers the occupied territory, although the UK does not recognise its declaration of independence from the Republic of Cyprus.
The territory’s Ministry of Health has pledged to investigate concerns surrounding fertility services.
The UK Government also warns that British diplomats at the British High Commission have “limited ability to provide assistance” in the Turkish-occupied north.
Its travel advice provides links to lists of English-speaking lawyers operating in both the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied north.
Cyprus, FCDO, Fertility Treatment, Foreign Office, healthcare, HFEA, medical tourism, TRNC, Turkey, Turkish-Occupied North Cyprus, UK Government
