Hyderabad: Twenty-two surrogate mothers gave birth at fertility clinics in the city and the newborns were handed over to their biological parents after proper evaluation, health minister Dr C. Laxma Reddy said.
With the law on surrogacy still not enacted by the Centre, it is not possible for the state to act on its own on the matter, he said.
Five pregnant surrogate mothers were taken care of at fertility clinics but were being monitored by government doctors. Women from villages have stopped coming to these clincis.
Dr Reddy said, “We do not want poor women to be exploited on a commercial basis for surrogacy. This practice must stop but as there is no law in place, we are only ensuring that these centres do not ill-treat the women. We are also taking steps to ensure that these women are provided all the medical care required.”
A total of 76 centres have been identified in the state which carry out surrogacy. Hyderabad tops with 27, Ranga Reddy 15, Medchal 15 and others have one to two centres.
Poor women from small towns and districts opted to become surrogate mothers and are given cash after delivery. Their medical expenses post-delivery must ideally be taken care by the biological parents.
The state government has set up a committee to study the existing problem in the state to control the practice.
