KATHMANDU, Aug 19: A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC), demanding government action to regulate in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy practices in Nepal.
The petition argues that despite the growing number of IVF clinics, there is no comprehensive law to oversee sensitive issues such as sperm and egg donation, embryo use, and surrogacy. It highlights risks including multiple clinics using the same donor, use of genetic material without consent, and continued promotion of surrogacy even though commercial surrogacy is prohibited by the SC.
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The petitioner, Shreena Nepal, coordinator of Prakash Mani Sharma Academy for Public Interest, said that repeated attempts to ensure implementation of past SC verdicts and to seek accountability from relevant ministries had been met with inaction. She stressed that the Ministry of Health and Population’s newly introduced guidelines on infertility management services remain insufficient, as they do not constitute binding law.
The case is currently under consideration at the SC, with interim orders sought from the bench.
