Minister of Health & Family Welfare, P. Paiwang Konyak, with Board members during the meeting.
KOHIMA, JULY 31 (MExN): The first meeting of the State Supervisory Board for the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) & Surrogacy Act and the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act was held under the chairmanship of Shri P. Paiwang Konyak, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland. The meeting took place at the Conference Hall of the Health & Family Welfare Department, Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima.
The Board, reconstituted recently, includes representatives from the Departments of Law and Justice, Social Welfare, Health & Family Welfare, as well as specialists such as pediatricians, radiologists, and gynecologists. Members from the Nagaland Medical Council, Naga Mothers Association, and Kohima Obstetrics & Gynaecology also participated in the discussions.
In his opening remarks, Minister Paiwang Konyak expressed satisfaction with the Board's reconstitution and emphasized the importance of awareness of these Acts among state and allied departments, particularly Law and Justice. He also urged the Board to consider Nagaland's unique socio-cultural context while implementing these laws.
Key issues discussed during the meeting included the implementation of the PC-PNDT Act in Nagaland, the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, and the Surrogacy Regulation Act 2021. The Board resolved to notify District Appropriate Authorities and Chief Medical Officers to enforce strict monitoring and inspection, particularly of ultrasound clinics, and to ensure timely reporting as required by the Acts.
The Board also proposed the inclusion of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatments under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS). Additionally, it was decided that doctors visiting from outside the state for IVF counseling should obtain temporary registration under the Nagaland Medical Council. The Board also called for the registration of hospitals performing IUI procedures across the districts.
The meeting concluded with a firm decision to initiate stern actions and penalties against any medical establishments found violating the Acts. The Board also stressed the need for increased public awareness and sensitization regarding these important regulations.
