What is the impact of the new Assisted Reproductive Technology regulations in India on the cost of treatment and conception opportunities

Discuss the provisions of the new Assisted Reproductive Technology regulations and how they affect the cost of treatment and limit conception opportunities.
The new Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) regulations, implemented in November 2020 by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), aim to standardize and regulate the fertility industry in India. Here are some ways in which these regulations may impact the cost of treatment and limit conception opportunities:
  • The regulations mandate that all ART clinics must be registered and meet certain standards of infrastructure and staffing, which may increase operational costs and consequently, the cost of treatment for patients.
  • They place a maximum cap on the number of embryos that can be transferred during a single cycle, which may reduce the chances of successful conception for some patients.
  • They require comprehensive counseling for patients, including information on the risks and benefits of ART, as well as the legal and financial implications of using donor gametes or surrogacy. This may increase the time and cost of treatment for patients.
  • They prohibit commercial surrogacy and the use of donor gametes from outside of India, which may limit the conception opportunities available to some patients.
  • They set minimum and maximum age limits for patients seeking ART, which may prevent some older or younger patients from accessing treatment.
Overall, while the new ART regulations aim to improve the safety and quality of fertility treatment in India, they may also have implications for the accessibility and affordability of these services for some patients.
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