National Assembly Member Proposes Bill for Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation

Kathmandu. A resolution proposal has been registered in the National Assembly demanding regulation of the increasingly prevalent assisted reproductive technology and the creation of clear laws related to it. The proposal, with National Assembly member Madan Kumari Shah (Garima) as the proposer and members Kamala Devi Pant, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, and Prem Prasad Dangal as supporters, was registered on Wednesday. It draws the government's attention to making assisted reproductive technology safe, transparent, and dignified.

The proposal mentions that while this technology has proven to be a boon for infertile couples with the development of medical science, its extreme misuse is occurring due to legal loopholes. There is no separate and clear legal provision in Nepal regarding egg and sperm donation, collection, storage, use, import, and export. Criminal and commercial activities such as extracting eggs from adolescent girls by luring them with financial incentives and playing with their health are happening. Legal provisions are essential to ensure the rights, privacy, and health security of children born through this technology. There is a lack of a capable regulatory body for the registration, operation, and monitoring of hospitals, clinics, and laboratories providing ART services. The proposal states that strict laws are necessary to prevent risks such as brokerage, illegal trade, and human trafficking in the purchase and sale of eggs and sperm.