The authorities of Anhui province, in the east of Chinafive people were arrested this weekend after the dismantling of a surrogacy networkan illegal practice in the Asian country.
Investigators detected the involvement of a medical technology company in illegal surrogacy activities, among other irregularities, after a complaint filed on Friday by a user on social networks, reports the local newspaper. Global Times.
The citizen reported the existence of a surrogacy agency in the city of Hefei that allegedly collaborated illicitly with medical personnel and local officials to carry out clandestine egg extractions and falsify birth certificates.
After that, an investigation team was formed made up of the departments of public security, health, disciplinary inspection, supervision and market regulation, with the aim of beginning the investigations.
Authorities are also investigating possible disciplinary violations or illegal activities by officials, the newspaper added.
Restrictions for assisted reproduction
In China they are surrogacy prohibitedas well as single women’s access to assisted reproductive technologies such as egg freezing due to “health risks”, “lack of evidence supporting the practice of egg freezing technology to postpone fertility” and a potential ” abuse of technology for profit,” explained the National Health Commission in 2020.
Last year, health authorities launched a campaign to combat the illegal application of assisted reproductive techniques and “criminal activities” related to surrogacy in the Asian country.
China closed 2023 with 1,409.7 million inhabitants0.14% less than in 2022, the year in which the population already fell by 850,000 people, marking the first decline since 1961, when the failed industrial policy of the Great Leap Forward caused large-scale famines.