Fertility Regulations: A need of the hour

Infertility affects millions of couples globally, with 28 million couples in India suffering from the issue. Since not being able to conceive can be one of the most difficult events in a couple’s life, research shows that couples dealing with reproductive issues experience significant anguish and worry.

IVF services in India are now fully regulated by law in that country.

The Central government has formally notified the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021. The purpose of these Acts is to regulate and raise the calibre of IVF clinics in India.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021 prohibits commercial surrogacy but allows altruistic surrogacy. The Act’s goal is to regulate surrogacy in India and is administered through a National Surrogacy Board at the federal level, state surrogacy boards, and pertinent authorities in states and union territories.

Similarly, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act 2021 (ART Act) aims to monitor and regulate assisted reproductive technology clinics and banks to prevent any potential abuse.

A database of all clinics and medical experts working in the field will be maintained with the help of these regulations.

State governments will designate registration authorities to assist with the registration process. The duration of registration will be five years, with the possibility of a five-year extension.

Through the Act, these clinics and banks will be supervised by the national board, state boards, national registry, and state registration authority.

These rules will also guarantee the following, in addition to encouraging improved governance and compliance in the fertility ecosystem:

a) The creation of minimal requirements and conduct guidelines for sperm or egg banks and fertility clinics.

b) Putting standard operating procedures into practice to guarantee consistent, international quality standards across India.

c) To stop private companies from commercialising ART services, a monitoring system should be established.

d) Stopping exploitative or immoral behaviour.

e) Offers health and life insurance to surrogate mothers and oocyte donors, protecting them.

Millions of couples who are infertile now have more faith in fertility treatments thanks to the ART Act. It will.

1) Provide ethical and controlled access to fertility treatment for infertile couples.

2) Permits couples to take action if the ART clinic or bank has been the subject of complaints filed with the proper authority and investigated.

Written by:

Vikas Anand, the CEO