Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Dr Randheer Singh, member of State Surrogacy Board said that commercial surrogacy is banned in India after Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) Act and the Surrogacy Act in December 2021 which regulates surrogacy in India.
It was enacted on December 25, 2021 and came into effect on January 25, 2022. The act prohibits commercial surrogacy and only allows altruistic surrogacy. Free Press talked to Dr Randheer Singh on various issues regarding surrogacy.
Excerpts
Q1 How Surrogacy is different from IVF?
A- Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another couple. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the joining of a woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish (In vitro means outside the body) and then plant in womenís uterus.
Q-2 How much is its success rate?
A-Surrogacy/IVF success rate is 30-40%. So three tests are conducted in the entire process. Yearly, 1k surrogacy cases are coming in Madhya Pradesh.
Q-3 What is the age limit for surrogacy/IVF in India?
A-Age limit is 23-35 years for surrogate mothers (those women who offer for surrogacy) and age limit is 21-50 year for female and 21-55 years for male for intending couple (who wants) in India. This is the reason, people prefer to go abroad where age limit is 60 for female and male. We have demanded to increase age in India too.
Q-4 Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 which has been enforced to regulate surrogacy in India. What is this act?
A- With enforcement of Surrogacy act, commercial surrogacy has been stopped in India as relatives have been made mandatory. So it reduced cost as well as restricted surrogacy at the commercial level. Earlier, the cost used to skyrocket up to Rs 10 lakh. A surrogate mother must be a 'close relative' of the intending couple. Identity is concealed if sperm is donated.
Q5 What are the parameters for counselling before surrogacy/IVF?
A- Colour of skin and eyes, height, blood group, no chronic disease are factors we consider before surrogacy during counselling. In fact, four legal documents are requiredómedical certificate for fitness declaring no disease and certificate regarding intending couple, no claim affidavit from surrogating mother, Insurance of Rs 10 lakh in favour of surrogating mother. We are demanding to increase the insurance limit up to Rs 25 lakh.
Q6 How will it be trained and taught in medical colleges in state?
A- There is no separate branch. Gynaecologists will be trained. After World Health Organisation (WHO) notified infertility as disease, the government has begun opening department in medical colleges in the country. Initially, it was opened in AIIMS, New Delhi and PGI, Chandigarh.
But there was waiting of two to three years. Now, Madhya Pradesh government has decided to open department in medical colleges. In the first phase, it will be opened in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur.
