REGULATORY ASPECTS OF EGG FREEZING IN INDIA: ART ACT PROVISIONS ON CLINICS, EQUIPMENT, AND ART BANK REGISTRATION

Assisted reproductive technologies have developed at a fast rate, and egg freezing is one of the most important choices that a person can undertake regarding fertility preservation both medically and socially. This review describes the steps involved in egg freezing, success rate, factors effecting, risks of egg freezing, storage period, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the subsequent 2022 Rules are explained and the form of the regulatory control, the means by which an ART clinic/bank must be registered, the staff requirements, equipment and facilities that must be available in the environment, in order to provide a suitable and effective result leading to a safe and ethical practice. To highlight vulnerabilities inherent in the system, a case study, in Hyderabad, will be presented: Exposing an illegal surrogacy and baby-selling racket and, by extension, how regulatory gaps, unregulated practice, and malpractices can erode trust and patient safety, a fertility clinic is highlighted. This case is a reminder to the need to have a strict enforcement, open accreditation, and public education.