Lok Sabha Question No. 4555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-12
Subject: ART Clinics
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 4555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH AUGUST, 2016

## ART CLINICS

## 4555. SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of violation of the regulatory guidelines for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics and if so, details thereof during the last three  yea rs, State/UT - wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  issued directives  not  to  grant  visas  to  Foreign Nationals intending to visit the country for commissioning surrogacy and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has discussed  the  issue  of  ban  on  commercial surrogacy  and unethical practices with the stakeholders including States;
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereon; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by the  Government  to  ensure  strict  compliance of the guidelines issued by the Government to regulate surrogacy and ART clinics?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) : The  National  Guidelines  for  Accreditation,  Supervision  and  Regulation  of  Assis Reproductive  Technology  (ART)  clinics  in  India  were  brought  out  in  2005.  As  per  t guidelines,  the  State  Governments/UT  administrations  are  to  regulate  and  supervise functions of the ART clinics in the States/UTs in accordance with the said guidelines.

As per details available, the number of complaints received against ART clinics d the last three years are as under:

| Number of Complaints   | Number of Complaints   | Number of Complaints   | Number of Complaints   |
|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| State                  | Year                   | 2014-15                | 2015-16                |
| Delhi                  | 2013-14 2              | 1                      | 0                      |
| Maharashtra            | 3                      | 0                      | 0                      |
| Karnataka              | 0                      | 1                      | 0                      |
| Gujarat                | 0                      | 0                      | 1                      |
| Andhra Pradesh         | 0                      | 1                      | 0                      |
| Total                  | 5                      | 3                      | 1                      |

Source: (i) ICMR, (ii) PC&PNDT, GNCT of Delhi and (iii) Government of Karnataka

(b) : Ministry of Home Affairs, after consulting all stakeholders, in a communication dat rd November 2015 has issued directives to all concerned not to issue VISAs to Foreign Nati intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy.

- (c) & (d): Department of Health Research, after due consultation with all stakeholders, communication dated 4 th November 2015, addressed to all States/UTs has conveyed the policy decision of the Government not to support commercial surrogacy.
- (e): The Department of Health Research (DHR) is in the process of finalizing the 'Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016' which is likely to be placed before the Parliament shortly.