Published Aug 31, 2026 | 10:51 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 31, 2026 | 10:51 PM
Male infertility. Representative image. (iStock)
Synopsis: Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Dr Sangeetha Satyanarayana said officials had inspected 379 private fertility centres, of which 50 were found to have deviations. The violations included unauthorised staff changes, improper record-keeping, failure to display registration certificates, absence of grievance cells, and centres operating from locations different from their registered addresses.
The Telangana Health Department has found regulatory violations in 50 of 379 private fertility centres inspected across the state.
Following the finding, the department cancelled the registrations of two centres and suspended permissions of nine others, Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said on Monday, 31 August.
The minister directed officials to take strict legal action against fertility and IVF centres violating the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and surrogacy laws.
At a review meeting at the Secretariat, Narasimha examined the functioning of government and private fertility and IVF centres and reviewed implementation of the ART, Surrogacy and PCPNDT laws.
Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Dr Sangeetha Satyanarayana informed the Minister that officials had inspected 379 private fertility centres, of which 50 were found to have deviations.
The violations included unauthorised staff changes, improper record-keeping, failure to display registration certificates, absence of grievance cells, and centres operating from locations different from their registered addresses, the Health Department said.
“Show-cause notices were issued to the respective centres, and further action was taken based on the severity of the violations,” the department said.
The commissioner said the registrations of two centres were cancelled, while permissions of nine centres were temporarily suspended for non-compliance.
The minister directed officials to ensure that centres found violating regulations face legal action and said there should be no leniency in enforcing the law.
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Officials informed the minister that Telangana currently has 477 registered ART and surrogacy centres.
Of these, 129 are ART Level-1 centres, 226 are ART Level-2 centres, 59 are ART banks and 63 are surrogacy clinics, according to the Health Department.
The minister directed officials to continuously monitor these centres and inspect their staffing, registration status, record-keeping practices and grievance redressal mechanisms.
He also ordered officials to examine the medicines and injections being used at private fertility centres, including their manufacturers and maximum retail prices.
The minister directed officials to ensure that fertility treatment is provided transparently and that patients are not subjected to unnecessary financial burdens.
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The review also focused on expanding fertility and IVF services in government hospitals.
Officials reported that the government IVF centres at Gandhi Hospital and MGMH, Petlaburj, had provided fertility-related medical services to 39,802 patients so far.
Together, the two centres have conducted 20,185 follicular studies, 521 IUI procedures and 545 IVF procedures, the Health Department said.
The IVF centre at Gandhi Hospital was inaugurated in October 2024, while the centre at MGMH, Petlaburj, was launched in December 2024.
The minister directed officials to prepare proposals to strengthen the services at both centres and expand government IVF services to districts in a phased manner.
Officials told the minister that the government facilities were helping couples seeking fertility treatment to realise their dream of parenthood.
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The minister also reviewed implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
The Health Department said its officials conducted 2,600 inspections at hospitals and scanning centres between April and July.
The inspections identified 37 violations across 52 centres, following which show-cause notices were issued.
The minister directed officials to strictly enforce the PCPNDT Act and maintain special surveillance over centres suspected of conducting sex-determination tests.
He instructed officials to strengthen monitoring of private-sector fertility services to ensure quality, transparency and compliance with legal requirements, while simultaneously expanding access to fertility and IVF services in government hospitals.
