The Health Bureau (SSM) said on Monday that three private clinics were suspected of having provided in vitro fertilisation (IVF) services without a licence. The bureau stressed that only the public Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre is allowed to provide artificial insemination services.
The bureau made the announcement in a special press conference at the public hospital on Monday.
The bureau said that if a medical institution plans to provide assisted reproductive technology medical services, it needs to apply for a licence from the bureau.
The bureau stressed that it has not issued licences to any of the city’s private medical institutions which would allow them to provide assisted reproductive technology medical services, which include artificial insemination services and IVF. The bureau said that if a private medical institution in the city is providing such services, they are illegal.
Early last month, the bureau published guidelines about the provision of assisted reproductive technology medical services in licensed medical institutions.
The bureau inspected seven private medical institutions on Monday. The inspection teams found equipment and medicines used in IVF services in three of the seven clinics, the bureau said, adding that it suspected that they once provided such services. The bureau said it was carrying out an investigation so as to confirm whether the three clinics had illegally provided such services.
