A Melbourne Invitro fertilization (IVF) clinic has signed an agreement that will see Chinese couples flown into Australia for fertility treatment.
Up to 100 Chinese women will receive treatment at Monash IVF, the clinic which completed the world's first IVF pregnancy, in the next 12 months with the possibility of more in the future.
The move comes in response to the waiting list for IVF clinics in China being up to two years long due to the country's growing middle class and relaxation of the one-child policy.
James Thiedman, CEO of Monash IVF, said the clinic's reputation resonated with potential Chinese clients.
"Now in China you have literally millions of women between their mid-30s to mid-40s who have one child, and now have the opportunity to have a second child, and the unfortunate reality is many of these women, due to their more advanced maternal age will struggle to conceive spontaneously, so they need some help," Thiedman told News Limited on Thursday.
"While there are fertility clinics in China, they don't necessarily have the level of technology that we have here in Australia, but also importantly their waiting lists because of this sudden step up in demand, are up to two years.
"This arrangement gives patients in China an alternative to having to sit back and wait for two years, they can get on a plane, come over and have world-class care and take the opportunity to see the great state of Victoria."
He said the intake of Chinese clients would not have any effect on the clinic's capacity to treat local patients.
Jenny Chin, operation director of AC International Medical Tourism, said Monash IVF would help bridge the gap for wealthy Chinese families unwilling to wait up to two years for treatment.
"IVF patients really need to undergo treatment, they cannot wait. Their high-end patients will be given to AC International to undergo treatment at Monash," Chin said.
"We will be looking at people over 40, to 45, because that is a lot of the demand. They are wealthy, they have only one child, and they can afford this."
"Chinese now are pretty wealthy in their own right, and the Australian dollar is low, so it is all about medical tourism."
