The Karnataka Legislative Committee urges to govt to regulate surrogacy

BANGALORE : The Karnataka Legislative Committee asked the government to formulate a law to protect the socio-economic interests of surrogate mothers and to save them from exploitation. It observed that there is an increase in advertisements from hospitals and illegal clinics which cater to the needs of childless couples and urged the government to set up an accreditation authority to regulate the assisted reproductive services offered by private medical institutions.
The committee said there is no legislation in force in the country to protect surrogate mothers. Pointing out that there is a huge demand from abroad for Indian surrogate mothers as surrogacy is a costly and complicated affair in foreign countries, the committee said India may become a medical tourism destination in future.
Surrogacy has turned into a business and is being controlled by touts, the committee observed and said Health and Family Welfare Department should ensure that poor women offering themselves as surrogate mothers are not exploited.