Telangana orders shutdown of illegal IVF clinics, eyes licence revocation for doctors

Telangana health minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha has ordered the permanent cancellation of licences for private IVF centres found running illegal egg‑trade operations. He also asked officials to look into stripping doctors of their medical licences if they are proved to be part of the scheme, after consulting the state’s medical council and the national regulator. At a review meeting with senior health officials in Hyderabad on Friday, the minister examined the probe into an alleged network that sourced human oocytes through unauthorised channels. The administration had earlier stepped in at Srushti Fertility Centre over irregularities and now says a gang involved in the illicit egg procurement has been identified and arrested. The health department, working with police, will keep surveillance on private fertility clinics and carry out inspections to stop further breaches. Officials have been told to pursue thorough investigations of all persons and organisations linked to the racket and to press strict legal penalties on those found guilty. To tighten oversight, the minister directed the strengthening of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act and the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act. Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu has been asked to form an expert committee that will review how other states regulate IVF services and suggest improvements for Telangana, including possible new state‑level guidelines within the existing central laws. The Drug Control Authority has been instructed to monitor the entire supply chain of medicines used in IVF treatments, from manufacturing to retail.

Context

The crackdown reflects growing concerns across India about unethical practices in assisted‑reproduction clinics. The central statutes aim to protect donors and recipients, and states are now being urged to enforce them more rigorously.