Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020, seeks to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and assisted reproductive technology banks, and ensure the safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also moved various amendments to the Assisted Reproductive (Regulation) Bill based on recommendations made by a parliamentary committee. Moving the Bill, Health Minister said the Bill was tabled in Parliament in September 2020 and the lower House referred it to the Standing Committee. Many suggestions came from the Standing Committee and Government has considered those recommendations, he said. The Standing Committee Report on the Bill was submitted in March this year.
"Many such ART clinics have been running in the country without regulation. Need was felt for regulation of such clinics as it has implication on health of those who undertake the procedure," he said.
Initiating debate on the Bill, Karti Chidambaram (Congress) said this law is a Victorian law as it is not all encompassing. It excludes those who could not afford this expensive procedure for a baby and the Government should consider supporting poor childless parents for taking help of ART, Karti suggested.
He also suggested that the Government should consider including lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBTQ). Heena Gavit (BJP) said the Bill seeks to set minimum standards and codes of conduct for fertility clinics and egg/sperm banks. It also proposes stringent punishment for those practising sex selection and sale of human embryos or gametes. She said about 80 per cent ART clinics are not registered and the Bill will ensure strict adherence to guidelines.
"Ensuring confidentiality of the commissioning couples, women and donors will also be done under the aegis of this proposal of the Cabinet. The Bill also has a provision that those involved in trafficking and sale of embryos will be fined Rs 10 lakh at first instance and in second instance the person could be imprisoned for up to 12 years,” she added.