Guwahati: Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal issued certificates to five state hospitals on Friday, authorizing them to establish surrogacy clinics.
He stated that this initiative aims to bring the surrogacy process under government regulation, marking a new era in ethical assisted reproduction.
The certificates for establishing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics, ART banks and surrogacy clinics were provided to Apollo Fertility, Down Town Hospital, GMCH Fertility and IVF Centre, and The Institute of Human Reproduction – all in Guwahati – and Swasti Hospital in Rangia.
The health minister stated that the Assam government is committed to establishing a transparent and accountable system, ensuring couples in need can access advanced reproductive services.
He added that certifying these institutions would bring hope and happiness to distressed couples who have been unable to conceive.
It follows the implementation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 by the Union government, along with their corresponding rules notified in 2022.
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In alignment with these national regulations, the state government established the State Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board and the Appropriate Authority for ART and Surrogacy in December 2023.
