Jaipur: The health department has ordered strict monitoring of assisted reproductive technology (ART) banks, ART clinics and surrogacy clinics across the state after concerns over poor enforcement and unregistered IVF-related practices.District reproductive and child health officers (RCHOs) have been made responsible for ensuring compliance with the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act.They have been directed to inspect registered centres, identify violations and immediately report unregistered IVF-related activity to the state authorities for action.The department has also issued a letter to Udaipur RCHO Dr Rakesh Gupta, seeking an explanation within seven working days over alleged failure to monitor ART centres in the district.“Taking the Udaipur case seriously, the health department has directed all RCHOs to carry out intensive monitoring of ART banks, ART clinics and surrogacy clinics registered in their districts. If any centre is found carrying out IVF-related work without registration, they must immediately inform the state level and initiate action under the ART and Surrogacy Acts,” a senior health department official said.The move follows a probe by a health department committee into alleged irregularities at Amar Ashish Hospital in Udaipur. The committee inspected the hospital’s ART Bank, ART Clinic Level II and Surrogacy Clinic. Based on the inquiry and written statements, the vice chairperson of the Appropriate Authority, ART and Surrogacy, and the additional director of the health department suspended the registration certificates of the hospital’s ART Bank, ART Clinic Level II and Surrogacy Clinic with immediate effect.The department has also written to the registrar of the Rajasthan Medical Council, Jaipur, seeking action as per rules against Dr Nina Saxena, gynaecologist at Amar Ashish Hospital, for alleged unethical practices.An FIR has been lodged at Hathipol police station by the Chief Medical and Health Officer, Udaipur, against Amar Ashish Hospital.Officials said district RCHOs will be held responsible if registered institutions in their jurisdiction are found violating ART and surrogacy laws.
