Hyderabad: Telangana Health Department on Tuesday launched a unified digital portal to regulate Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and diagnostic services across the state.
The move comes a year after authorities busted Universal Srushti’s illegal surrogacy and baby trafficking racket
The move is aimed at plugging regulatory gaps exposed by the scandal and bringing transparency and accountability into the system.
The portal will integrate approvals under multiple laws, including the Clinical Establishments Act, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, and the Surrogacy Act.
Once operational, hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, IVF centres, and surrogacy service providers will be required to apply through this single platform instead of visiting District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) offices.
Officials said the system will enable online submission of documents, tracking of applications, scheduling of inspections, and issuance of licences, significantly reducing delays and manual intervention.
‘Process was fragmented earlier’
Explaining the need for the portal, S. Sangeetha Satyanarayana, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, said the earlier system involved multiple steps handled across different offices without a standardised tracking mechanism.
“For couples opting for surrogacy, there are several requirements, including medical certification, essentiality and eligibility approvals, court-related procedures, and an interview process. Earlier, applicants had to move between DMHO offices, courts, and the head office, and timelines were not clearly defined,” she said.
The new portal, she said, will allow applicants to upload all required documents online and receive notifications on timelines, reducing the need for physical visits.
Licensing and inspections to go digital
The portal will also streamline licensing for facilities offering ART and surrogacy services.
“Facilities can now apply online for licences, upload all required documents, and inspections will be scheduled digitally. Based on compliance, approvals will be issued,” Sangeetha said.
In addition, regulatory processes under the PCPNDT Act, including inspections, reporting, and enforcement actions, will be integrated into the platform.
Inspection checklists will be standardised, and notices for violations will be generated through the system, enabling better monitoring and follow-up.
Triggered by Srushti scandal
Officials acknowledged that the initiative was shaped by the Universal Srushti case, which exposed serious lapses in oversight.
“Much of the information, including licensing status and operations of facilities, had to be gathered manually. That is not feasible in today’s context,” Sangeetha said.
She added that while national portals exist, they largely focus on application submission and do not capture the entire regulatory process.
The portal has been tested and is expected to go live shortly.
Officials said it is expected to improve transparency, reduce delays, and strengthen oversight in a sector that has seen rapid growth but limited regulatory integration.
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