Hyderabad: Women’s Commission issues notices to five IVF centres over egg harvesting

The Telangana State Commission for Women has issued notices to five fertility centres over alleged illegal human egg harvesting. Chairperson Nerella Sharada directed medical authorities to take stringent action, including licence revocation if the allegations are established.

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Commission for Women has issued notices to five fertility centres over allegations of illegal human egg harvesting and other violations. Representatives of Indira IVF Centre, Narmada Fertility Centre, Oasis Fertility Centre, Sadguru ART Centre and Padmaja Fertility Centre appeared before the Commission on Monday.

However, Commission Chairperson Nerella Sharada expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the principal administrators of the centres, who had sent their employees instead.

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The District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), Hyderabad, also appeared before the Commission along with a team of medical officers in response to a notice issued to the department.

The Commission conducted an extensive enquiry with the medical team. The Chairperson directed the medical authorities to initiate stringent action against hospitals and fertility centres allegedly involved in the illegal retrieval of eggs, particularly from poor women.

She further instructed the authorities to revoke the licences of the centres immediately if the allegations were established.

The administrators of all five centres were questioned individually. Based on reports and complaints received against these facilities, the Commission sought explanations from their representatives and obtained written submissions.

The Chairperson said further action would be taken after examining the written explanations submitted by the IVF centre operators.

She warned that only the principal administrators of the respective centres should appear for the enquiry and made it clear that sending employees in their place would not be tolerated, according to a press release issued by the Commission.