VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Government has issued a decree on in vitro fertilization techniques and surrogacy conditions for humanitarian purposes.

Under the decree, infertile couples have the right to use surrogacy for humanitarian purposes based on a voluntary basis of the parties involved.

The intended parents, the surrogate mother and the child born through surrogacy will be provided with medical, legal and psychological advice; and their private life, privacy, family secrets will be ensured, and respected and protected by law.

The clinics allowed to perform surrogate techniques for humanitarian purposes must ensure the following conditions: have at least one year of experience performing in vitro fertilization technique, with at least 300 cases of in vitro fertilization, and no violations of the law in the field of medical exams and treatment related to in vitro fertilization.

The decree also named the three clinics that are allowed to perform the surrogate techniques: the Central Obstetrics Hospital in Hanoi; the Central Hospital of Hue in Hue City; and Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

After one year of implementation of this Decree, based on actual conditions, the Minister of Health will consider adding other facilities onto the list.

According to the decree, infertile couples have to send an application and related documents to the three hospitals allowed to perform the procedure. These clinics have to check the legality of the records, with the help of police if necessary, before performing the techniques.

Thu Lan