I read yesterday's report with great interest ("Birth of '3-parent baby' sparks debate, hopes").

This technique is certainly useful for women with genetic diseases. It can also be applied to overcome age-related female infertility in women above 35 years of age.

This may provide an alternative to social egg freezing for older women trying to beat the biological clock and beget their own genetic children.

Nevertheless, the scarcity of egg donors could pose a hurdle to this new technology. Perhaps, it is time to consider paying egg donors, in order to advance research and application of this new technology in Singapore.

Alternatively, donated eggs can also be sourced from younger women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation treatment, in return for subsidisation of medical fees.

Alexis Heng Boon Chin (Dr)