HYDERABAD: In the wake of the recent fertility clinic fraud involving Namratha, who has since been taken into police custody, the health department has launched a comprehensive inspection drive across all assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics. The state government has directed the health department to form a three-member committee headed by health commissioner Sangeetha Satyanarayana and including chief executive officer, Rajiv Aarogaysri Health Care Trust and the director of medical education.
The committee will supervise the conduct of comprehensive inspections of all private IVF clinics and fertility centres operating in the state to ensure adherence to the legal, clinical and ethical standards.
Around 35 special inspection teams have been constituted to conduct these inspections. On Saturday, the teams were able to inspect over 65 private centres. The remaining clinics in other districts will be covered in subsequent phases.
There are 381 ART clinics operating in the state, with 157 located in Hyderabad and GHMC areas.
The committee has been directed to strictly scrutinize these centers and examine their functioning and any violations of the ART and Surrogacy Acts; ascertain whether proper registration, patient consent, gamete sourcing and procedural documentation are being maintained as per statutory requirements; analyse data on prior complaints, FIRS and past departmental actions taken against erring clinics; identify the number and status of affected victims, including oocyte/sperm donors, surrogates and recipient couples; enquire into any potential role or inaction of public officials or regulatory authorities like Medical Council in enabling the violations and review the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks and monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The committee will prepare a detailed report and submit to the state government within 10 days. It can also call upon any official or expert to provide information or evidence relevant to the inquiry.
