Surrogacy rules notified, no more than 3 attempts allowed

New Delhi, June 23

The Health Ministry has issued surrogacy regulation rules, saying not more than three attempts can be made at a surrogacy procedure and mandating the intending couple to buy 36-month general health insurance cover for the surrogate mother to cover expenses that may arise from pregnancy complications.

Insurance must

• The rules mandated the intending couple to buy 36-month general health insurance cover for the surrogate mother to cover expenses that may arise from pregnancy complications
• The rules stipulate that the surrogate mother would be entitled to abortion during surrogacy in accordance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971

The rules stipulate that the surrogate mother would be entitled to abortion during surrogacy in accordance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, which eased medical termination processes.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, has been in force since January 25 this year, but rules had not been framed.

The rules now lay down clear guidance on the qualification for employees of registered surrogacy clinics, and the formats in which clinics can charge for the registration and other services.

The rules say the intending couple will purchase a general health insurance coverage in favour of a surrogate mother for a period of 36 months from an insurance company or an agent recognised by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, for an amount which is sufficient enough to cover all expenses for all complications arising out of pregnancy and post-partum delivery complications.