British patients lose tens of thousands after Portuguese IVF clinic Ovom Care files for insolvency

# What happened

Ovom Care, a fertility clinic in Portugal, filed for insolvency after continuing to take payments and provide treatment shortly before it closed. Several British couples report being mid-treatment when the clinic abruptly became insolvent. One couple paid £10,000 on 15 August and were told the clinic was insolvent on 28 August. Other patients had paid earlier sums and were further along in multi-stage cycles.

# Who is affected

# How payments and refunds are being handled

Patients who paid via credit card reportedly have better options for refunds, but many avoided cards to escape foreign exchange fees and paid by bank transfer instead. Banks have declined some fraud claims, leaving patients reliant on the insolvency process. Ovom's chief executive told reporters the company was sorry for the distress and said claims for prepaid treatment must be filed with the insolvency administrator. Investors in Ovom echoed that message, pointing patients to the formal claims process.

# Financial and emotional consequences for patients

People affected describe severe financial losses and emotional damage. One couple estimated their total cost so far—including payments to Ovom, subsequent treatment costs and securing a new donor—at around £32,000. Another patient said she had paid for three IVF rounds at Ovom despite later medical advice suggesting she likely has endometriosis, leaving her feeling misled and distressed. Patients report being pressured to continue cycles and later discovering transfers had failed.

# Practical next steps for affected patients

• Register a claim with the insolvency administrator handling Ovom's case.

• If a bank has refused a chargeback or fraud claim, escalate through the bank's complaints process and consider legal advice focused on cross-border insolvency and consumer protection.

# Official responses and clinic statements

Ovom Care's CEO expressed regret for patient distress but said some publicly circulating claims were factually incorrect without providing specifics. Insolvency administrators have been named as the contact point for patients seeking refunds for prepaid treatment.

# What remains unclear

Exact numbers of affected UK patients and total sums lost have not been published by the insolvency administrators. The treatment status and whereabouts of any stored biological material were not detailed in available reports. The timeline and details of the clinic's financial collapse beyond the dates reported by patients have not been released publicly.

# Bottom line

Patients who paid Ovom directly by bank transfer face the most immediate financial vulnerability and should file claims with the insolvency administrators and gather all medical and payment records. Those mid-treatment should prioritise securing medical documentation and alternative treatment plans while pursuing formal claims and local political support.