Showing deep concern about rising infertility among couples, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has ordered an in-depth study and survey to find out the possible causes behind the inability to conceive a child. At the same time, the Minister proposed to establish Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centres at Government Medical Colleges in the state.

The Minister, chairing the first meeting of the state-level board constituted in connection with the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Surrogacy (regulation) Act, 2021, said that the proposed ART centres at Medical Colleges will facilitate the couples to address their infertility with medical procedures including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy.

Punjab is among the frontrunner states, which have already implemented both the acts — ART and Surrogacy Act — which seek to curb unethical practices related to issues including sex selection and exploitation of surrogates, he said.

“With the implementation of these Acts, all the fertility and surrogacy clinics in the state are now required to obtain registration to carry out ART or Surrogacy procedures to infertile couples,” he said.

Pertinently, the state appropriate authority has already granted registrations to the 106 institutions including 11 ART Clinics (Level 1), 53 ART Clinics (Level 2), 26 ART Banks and 16 Surrogacy Clinics.

Dr Balbir said that the key objective of implementing these acts was the prevention of commercialization of ART Clinics and surrogacy, besides, curbing the unethical practices. He informed that there is also a provision for rigorous punishment in case of contravention of the provisions of the Acts.