The Maharashtra government has initiated a statewide crackdown on unauthorized sonography and In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) centers to combat illegal sex determination and malpractices. Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar announced plans to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against violators during a State Assembly session. Concerns raised by MLA Abu Azmi regarding unregulated IVF facilities led to this action.
Lawmakers, including Harish Pimpale, Ajay Choudhari, Yogesh Sagar, and Rahul Patil, engaged in discussions on the issue. Minister Abitkar expressed alarm over the significant rise in IVF treatments and unnecessary Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries in Maharashtra. To address this, the state will establish a stringent regulatory framework to ensure IVF treatments are prescribed based solely on medical necessity.
The government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical medical practices, as emphasized by Minister Abitkar. Stricter legal measures, including the implementation of MCOCA, will be introduced to penalize individuals involved in human egg trafficking, IVF malpractice, and violations of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. Recent law enforcement actions have led to arrests and the initiation of proceedings to revoke medical licenses of implicated doctors.
Following inspections at ‘Babysure Clinic’ and ‘Indira IVF Centre’ in Chandrapur, both centers have been instructed to cease operations until they obtain official Level-1 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) registration due to irregularities. The government is considering including IVF facilities in the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya scheme to extend benefits to the underprivileged.
