The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) over reports that most in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics were operating in Delhi without any registration.
Many of these centres, which claim to help childless couples become parents, do not have adequate trained manpower and infrastructure to handle the highly-sophisticated technology. Besides, the services provided by some of these clinics are highly questionable.
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of reports regarding IVF clinics while observing that the contents of reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of childless couples in the country.
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It has asked the Union Health Secretary and ICMR Secretary to file their response within two weeks.
According to reports, of over 300 IVF clinics operating in the Capital, only 39 were registered with the ICMR.
The ICMR, which does not maintain data on unregistered IVF clinics, has registered only 308 assisted reproductive technologies (ART) clinics all over the country in the past 10 years.
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According to reports, most in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics are operating in Delhi without any registration