Parliament Question: Illegal Treatments in Universal IVF Centres

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH RESEARCH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3413 TO BE ANSWERED ON7THAUGUST, 2026 ILLEGALTREATMENTSIN UNIVERSALIVFCENTRES †3413. SMT.DHANORKAR PRATIBHASURESH: Willthe Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether it has come to light during an investigation by the Health Department that 'Babysuar' and 'Indira IVF' of Chandrapur city have started the treatment illegally without registration in violation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 passed by the Parliament, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the mechanism available with the Government to keep a strictly vigil on the entities deceiving the public financially and mentally by operating unlicensed IVF centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities; (c) whether the Government is likely to issue strict guidelines to the State Governments regarding permanent cancellation of the licenses and direct registration of criminal cases against such centres that commence illegal treatments prior to receiving the official registration certificate, if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the names of all the registered IVF centres is likely to be displayed on the Government digital portal toprevent the defrauding of commoncitizensacross the countryandif so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) Based on the information received from Maharashtra State Appropriate Authority which is the competent Authority to grant registration to ART clinics, Babysure and Indira IVF Clinic applied for registration on 19.01.2026 and 17.02.2026 respectively. During inspection, which is mandated before granting approval, the two centres were found to have several deficiencies. They were asked to stop providing services until they were rectified. Subsequently Babysure clinic has filed a court case and the matter is presently sub-judice. Indira IVF clinic has rectified the deficiencies observed by the inspecting team and the matter regarding grant of registration is under consideration of the State Appropriate Authority. (b) & (c): The implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the ART(Regulation) Act, 2021 primarilylieswith the State/UTAppropriate authority.Section 13 of ART(Regulation) Act, 2021 prescribes the functions of Appropriate Authority envisaging the power to grant, suspend or cancel registration of a clinic or bank and to enforce the standard to be fulfilled by the clinics/ banks. Further, Appropriate Authorities are empowered to investigate complaints of breach of the provision of this Act, Rules & Regulations made thereunder and take legal action as per the provision of the Act. Further, Section 15 of the ART(Regulation) Act, 2021 prohibits any person to establish any clinic or bank for undertaking Assisted Reproductive Technology or to render assisted reproductive technology proceduresinanyform unless such clinic or bankisdulyregistered underthisAct. Further, penal provisions under section 34 of the ART(Regulation) Act, 2021 have been prescribed for the centresthat commence illegaltreatmentsprior toreceiving of the officialregistration certificate. (d): The data of all registered ART Clinics, ART banks and Surrogacy clinics as uploaded by the respective State/UT Appropriate Authorities on the National ART and Surrogacy registry portal, is availableinthe public domainat https://registry.artsurrogacy.gov.in. *****