Govt proposes to bring Bill to regulate surrogacy: Azad

The government today said it proposes to bring a Bill to monitor the services of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics and banks to regulate surrogacy in the country.
"A draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill has been formulated and sent to Ministry of Law and Justice for concurrence," Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
He said in order to monitor the services of ART clinics and banks to help regulate surrogacy, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has already framed guidelines for accreditation, supervision and regulation of ART clinics and banks.

The Minister said the proposed law will help in effective implementation of the guidelines.
"The Bill describes the procedure for accreditation and supervision of Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinics and Banks," Azad said, adding that such services needed to be ethical.
He said such a law will also ensure that medical, social and legal rights of all concerned were protected with maximum benefit to infertile couples or individuals within the recognised framework of ethics and good medical practices.

The Bill will also ensure the constitution of national advisory board and maintain a national registry of ART clinics and banks, state boards and registration authorities and fix their responsibilities and duties.

It will prescribe rights and duties of patients, donors, surrogates and children, Azad said, adding that it will also prescribe the procedure for registration of complaints.
It also seeks to regulate research on embryos, gametes or other human reproductive material and will regulate sourcing, handling, record-keeping for gametes, embryos and surrogate mother, the Minister said.