Hyderabad:�The Hyderabad District Medical and Health Office (DM&HO) on Monday said Universal Srushti Fertility Centre founder Dr Athaluri Namratha had been conducting illegal operations without getting her facility registered under the National and State Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy Registry.
The Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, operating under the name Srushti Test Tube Baby Centre, was seized by authorities for allegedly engaging in illegal surrogacy practices and human trafficking.
Following a formal complaint by a couple, who discovered through DNA testing that the child they were given had no biological relation to them, health and police authorities conducted a joint raid on the facility on Friday. The couple had initially approached the clinic’s Visakhapatnam branch and were allegedly misled and threatened when they sought documentation.
During the search operation, multiple regulatory violations were unearthed. The clinic’s registration under the Clinical Establishments Act and the PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act had expired.
Officials also found unregistered ultrasound machines, an unlicensed pharmacy, and a functional operation theatre equipped with IVF and laparoscopic equipment, including recent records of oocyte (egg) retrievals and liquid nitrogen tanks.
Authorities said the clinic had previously received closure orders but continued to operate by misusing the names of certified doctors on its documents. Cases have been registered under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, and other relevant laws, including those related to human trafficking.
The DM&HO reiterated that around 381 ART and surrogacy clinics are currently registered in the state, including two government-run facilities. Citizens seeking fertility treatment have been advised to approach only those centres listed on the national and state ART registries.
The superintendent of one of the aforementioned government facilities was also recently questioned by the CBI in connection with a medical college recognition scam.
The Telangana Medical Council stated that it will deploy its existing anti-quackery legal committees to inspect all fertility clinics across the state. “The prime accused running the clinic was suspended in 2016 for five years following a similar surrogacy fraud. After that, she did not renew her licence,” said Dr. Srinivas Gundagani, vice-chairman, TGMC.
