WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC FUNDING IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION: RESULTS FROM A MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEY
Author(s)
Jeroen Luyten, Ph.D.1, Heloise Grandclerc Seror, Ph.D.1, Jonathan Tan, Ph.D.2, Kemal Uca, M.B.A3, Budi Wiweko, Ph.D.4.
1KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 2Merck Healthcare KGaA, Singapore, Singapore, 3Merck Healthcare, Darmstadt, Germany, 4Indonesia Medical Education Research Institute (IMERI), Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia., Jakarta, Indonesia.
1KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, 2Merck Healthcare KGaA, Singapore, Singapore, 3Merck Healthcare, Darmstadt, Germany, 4Indonesia Medical Education Research Institute (IMERI), Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia., Jakarta, Indonesia.
OBJECTIVES: To assess willingness to pay (WTP) for IVF among reproductive-aged adults in APAC - comparing the general population with IVF patients - identify sociodemographic determinants and estimate efficient levels of public coverage.
METHODS: In October 2025, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among (1) representative adults of reproductive age (18-45) and (2) IVF patients in 14 countries worldwide, including three APAC countries (Vietnam, India, Indonesia). The survey collected sociodemographic data, reproductive health status, and WTP for IVF. WTP was elicited using three methods: contingent valuation (CVM), price sensitivity meter (PSM), and Gabor-Granger. Linear regressions identified determinants of WTP. Demand curves compared current public funding with the unit-elastic point, beyond which price reductions no longer compensate for volume effects. External validity was assessed by comparing observed and predicted IVF uptake.
RESULTS: A total of 11,124 individuals participated, including 2,490 from APAC countries (~800 per country), mostly women aged 20-35. External validity was highest for CVM and lowest for Gabor-Granger, likely due to anchoring effects. Median PPP-adjusted WTP (CVM) was €1,716 in Indonesia, €2,172 in Vietnam, and €2,381 in India, representing respectively 10.7%, 19.0%, and 22.7% of IVF costs. Higher values were obtained with other methods. Current out-of-pocket prices exceed unit-elastic levels in all countries, suggesting that increased public funding would raise both uptake and private spending. Higher income (p=0.03), education (p=0.04), and IVF familiarity (p=0.04) were associated with greater WTP. Among IVF patients (n=240) in APAC, WTP was higher than in the general population.
CONCLUSIONS: In APAC, CVM best captures real demand for IVF, with willingness to pay below average IVF costs, indicating an affordability and funding gap. Increasing financial support would raise uptake more than proportionally until unit elasticity is reached.
METHODS: In October 2025, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among (1) representative adults of reproductive age (18-45) and (2) IVF patients in 14 countries worldwide, including three APAC countries (Vietnam, India, Indonesia). The survey collected sociodemographic data, reproductive health status, and WTP for IVF. WTP was elicited using three methods: contingent valuation (CVM), price sensitivity meter (PSM), and Gabor-Granger. Linear regressions identified determinants of WTP. Demand curves compared current public funding with the unit-elastic point, beyond which price reductions no longer compensate for volume effects. External validity was assessed by comparing observed and predicted IVF uptake.
RESULTS: A total of 11,124 individuals participated, including 2,490 from APAC countries (~800 per country), mostly women aged 20-35. External validity was highest for CVM and lowest for Gabor-Granger, likely due to anchoring effects. Median PPP-adjusted WTP (CVM) was €1,716 in Indonesia, €2,172 in Vietnam, and €2,381 in India, representing respectively 10.7%, 19.0%, and 22.7% of IVF costs. Higher values were obtained with other methods. Current out-of-pocket prices exceed unit-elastic levels in all countries, suggesting that increased public funding would raise both uptake and private spending. Higher income (p=0.03), education (p=0.04), and IVF familiarity (p=0.04) were associated with greater WTP. Among IVF patients (n=240) in APAC, WTP was higher than in the general population.
CONCLUSIONS: In APAC, CVM best captures real demand for IVF, with willingness to pay below average IVF costs, indicating an affordability and funding gap. Increasing financial support would raise uptake more than proportionally until unit elasticity is reached.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EE27
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health