Telangana govt sets up panel to inspect all private IVF clinics after illegal surrogacy racket bust

Hyderabad: Following the bust of an illegal surrogacy and child trafficking racket, the Telangana government has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all private IVF clinics and fertility centres in the State.

The Health Department has constituted a three-member committee to investigate violations of reproductive health laws and ethical breaches by clinics operating outside the legal framework.

Racket involving top clinic triggers crackdown

The action comes after police arrested several individuals linked to a major fertility centre in Hyderabad.

Among those apprehended are Athaluri Namratha alias Pachipala Namratha, founder-director of Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, her son Pachipala Jayanth Krishna, centre manager C Kalyani Atchayyamma, Gandhi Hospital anaesthetist Dr Nargula Sadanandam, lab technician Gollamandala Chenna Rao and agent Dhanasri Santoshi.

They are accused of illegally acquiring newborns from vulnerable women and misrepresenting them as children born through lawful surrogacy procedures.

Committee will review registration status, criminal cases

The three-member committee, functioning under the supervision of the Health Commissioner, has been tasked with a detailed examination of IVF clinics across Telangana. Its key responsibilities include:

- Verifying whether clinics comply with the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2011, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.

- Reviewing registration status, consent processes, gamete sourcing and embryo transfer protocols.

- Examining past complaints, FIRs and departmental records.

- Identifying the number and status of oocyte/sperm donors, surrogate mothers and intended parents

- Investigating any lapses or inaction by regulatory authorities or medical boards

- Assessing the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms

Widespread violations flagged

According to an official order issued by Health Secretary Christina Z Chongthu, several fertility centres have been found flouting the law. Violations include operating without mandatory registration, lack of transparency in documentation and unethical practices in gamete donation and embryo transfers.

The department expressed concern over the exploitation of women from economically weaker sections under the guise of legal surrogacy and fertility procedures.

Committee empowered to call officials, experts

The inspection panel includes the Health Commissioner, the CEO of the Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Care Trust and the Director of Medical Education. It has been authorised to summon officials, doctors and subject experts to aid the investigation. The committee has been asked to submit its findings within 10 days.

More regulatory action likely

The State government’s swift response signals its intent to tighten oversight of the fertility services sector. Based on the committee’s report, further administrative and legal action is expected against clinics found violating established laws and ethical norms.

Surrogacy Racket: How clinic’s aides lured rural women through medical camps

Hyderabad police have exposed how medical camps were used to recruit vulnerable women into an illegal surrogacy racket linked to Universal Srushti Fertility Centres.

Two of the main accused Dhanasri Santoshi and Kalyani, acted as key aides to the clinic’s founder, Athaluri Namratha, helping run operations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Camps as cover for recruitment

Police say Namratha’s team held free health camps in rural areas to identify women in financial distress. Santoshi and Kalyani then persuaded them to become surrogate mothers in exchange for promised payments.

Babies sold, wealth invested

Surrogacy procedures were conducted in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. After delivery, the newborns were brought to Hyderabad and handed over to clients for sums between Rs 15 and Rs 30 lakh. Namratha allegedly invested the proceeds in real estate.

Key accused under interrogation

Namratha, Santoshi and Kalyani were taken into custody on Saturday.

All three are being interrogated for three days. Namratha has denied any wrongdoing, claiming procedures were done at the clients’ requests. However, police continue to probe financial and legal violations.