Surrogacy Bill set to be finalised

New Delhi (TEENA THACKER |Deccan Chronicle) : Aimed at regulating surrogacy in India, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (regulation) Bill is all set to be finalised soon. The Union health ministry will hold a two-day consultation with all the stakeholders, including the Planning Commission this week.
The Planning Commission has so far been apprehensive about the proposed draft of the Bill finalised by the health ministry. Officials in the health ministry are aiming now to finalise the draft Bill so that it can be introduced in the Parliament without any further delay.
The Bill was first drafted five years ago. While the health ministry was considering to approach the law ministry for amending the draft, the Planning Commission raised objections over the proposed bill and asked the ministry to consult them before the final draft is sent to the law ministry.
“The ART Bill that aims to regulate surrogacy in the country has been delayed since 2008 when the first draft was prepared. It was revised in 2010 but is yet to get a final approval from the law ministry,” an official said.
It is, however, learnt that the new draft may allow surrogacy to all including unmarried couples and those in live-in relationships.
Ref: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140414/nation-current-affairs/article/assisted-reproductive-technology-bill-set-be-finalised

Maharashtra Medical Council forms panel to regularise surrogacy

Mumbai : (DNA/ Santosh Andhale and Somita Pal) : In a first in India, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has decided to formulate rules and regulations on surrogacy and has formed a committee for the same. The step was taken after the Mumbai police commissioner wrote a complaint letter to the MMC alleging malpractice on part of city's three leading infertility experts, who are from the surrogacy sector.
MMC is a statutory body that has the power to suspend a doctor's licence if s/he is found guilty of malpractice.
Currently, the surrogacy treatment is unchecked, unsupervised and not regularised. According to sources, there are around 70-80 IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) centres in Mumbai and 200 in the state, with the numbers rising over the past few months. The cost of the treatment runs into lakhs.

No visa needed for OCIs & PIOs coming for surrogacy

New Delhi (The Hindu) : Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) can fly to the country without a medical visa for commissioning surrogacy. Foreigners will, however, have to continue obtaining a visa.
A Home Ministry order says a couple with an OCI or PIO card, married for at least two years, would have to take permission only from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRO). They must, however, carry a letter from their country, issued by the Foreign Ministry or the Embassy here, saying it recognised surrogacy and that the child born thus would be permitted entry as the couple’s biological offspring.

Banglore : Head of surrogacy clinic held for 'cheating'

Bangalore (Deccan Herald) : The founder of a hi-tech surrogacy clinic in Basaveshwarnagar has been arrested and sent to jail on the charge of “cheating” more than 30 people who alleged that he failed to keep his promise to help them get babies through surrogacy and egg donation.

K T Gurumurthy, the founder and managing director of Shrushti Global Medicare and Research Foundation, was arrested by Kamakshipalya police after more than 30 people made a complaint of cheating against him.

The complainants alleged that Gurumurthy had pocketed lakhs of rupees from them, promising to help them get babies through surrogacy and egg donation, police said. Gurumurthy was produced before the 5th ACMM court which remanded him in judicial custody till January 27, said DCP (West) Labhu Ram. He added that police would investigate whether the foundation had obtained the necessary permission to conduct the surrogacy procedures and how Gurumurthy “cheated” innocent people.

The foundation, on its website (http://www.shrushtifertility.com/home.html), has stated that it is the “one and only hi-tech surrogate centre in South India offering comprehensive, value-based assisted reproductive technology programmes for clients across the world since 1999.”

A 29-member team runs the foundation. “We ensure that egg donation and the surrogacy arrangements through us are managed by an attorney, doctors and psychologists. This team assists in providing prompt, personal service to help make the right decision regarding your egg donors, surrogates or intended parents,” says an introduction on the website.