Government Appoints Experts to National ART and Surrogacy Board
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health Research) has notified the appointment of five experts to serve as Members of the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board. The appointments were made in exercise of powers conferred by Section 17 (2) (f) of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and Section 4 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
Draft Rules for Renewal of ART and Surrogacy Clinic Registrations
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Department of Health Research (ART & Surrogacy Division) has issued a notice to the general public on the Draft Rules for the Renewal of Registration of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics, ART banks, and surrogacy clinics. The proposed rules, framed under Section 17 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and Section 12(3) of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, outline procedures and requirements for the continued operation of such facilities.
Central Government Reconstitutes National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board
The revised composition of the Board includes the Chairpersons of the States of Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana as ex-officio members. They will replace Chairpersons of the State/UT Boards of Andaman and Nicobar Island, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttarakhand in the Board.
Revision in Composition of National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board
Diwakar Singh, currently serving as the Joint Secretary and Legislative Counsel in the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, has been appointed as a Member, ex officio in the place of Dr. N.R. Battu.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2023
MoHFW has revised the qualifications of the andrologist in ART Level 2 clinics. The amendment now also permits an andrologist to qualify under the Rules if they possess an MS General Surgery or FNB/MCh/DM in reproductive medicine. Prior to this amendment, only a person possessing a Mch or DNB in Urology with special training in Diagnosing and Treating Male infertility was classified as an andrologist for the purposes of ART.