Jaipur, August 26: The Rajasthan government has taken strict action against ‘Neelkanth Fertility and Woman Care Hospital Private Limited’ for initial violations of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and surrogacy service regulations. Nine registration certificates associated with the hospital’s ART clinic, ART bank, and surrogacy clinic have been suspended with immediate effect until further notice.
Rajasthan’s Medical and Health Minister, Gajendra Singh Khivsar, emphasized that the state government is committed to ensuring strict adherence to established standards and legal provisions in healthcare services. The action against ‘Neelkanth Fertility and Woman Care Hospital’ follows preliminary evidence of violations related to the regulation of ART and surrogacy services in the state.
Gaayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) of Rajasthan, stated that the action was taken in light of alleged violations of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. She highlighted that an advertisement in an English newspaper’s Jaipur edition featured a blue embryo, which was interpreted as promoting sex-selection services, as blue is commonly associated with boys. This prompted the initiation of action against the hospital, as sex-selection and sex-based ART procedures are prohibited under the law.
Rathore confirmed that the registrations for nine ART and surrogacy facilities operated by ‘Neelkanth Fertility and Woman Care Hospital’ have been suspended. These facilities are located in Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Ajmer.
The suspended registrations include Level-1 ART clinic facilities in Bhilwara, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer, and Jodhpur; Level-2 ART clinic facilities in the same locations; two Level-2 ART clinics in Jaipur; one surrogacy clinic in Jaipur; and one ART bank in Jaipur.
The department reiterated that the operation of ART and surrogacy services in the state must strictly comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards. Any promotion of prohibited practices, including sex-selection, will not be tolerated in any form, whether direct or indirect.
The state government has reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against institutions that violate legal provisions. It aims to ensure safe, transparent, and high-quality reproductive health services while strengthening compliance with legal and ethical standards across all institutions providing ART and surrogacy services.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.