(VOVworld) - More couples have been registering for surrogacy in the north than in southern and central regions, according to a conference concerning the fertility treatment held last week. Participants’ discussions revolved around relevant regulations and their execution, administrative procedures and initial outcomes. 

Health Minister Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said the Government issued Decree 10/2015/ND-CP on January 28, 2015 regulating in vitro fertilization (IVF) and medical conditions for surrogacy. There are three health facilities qualified for the treatment: the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hue Central Hospital and Tu Du Hospital, she said.  Dinh Thi Thu Thuy from the Health Ministry’s Department of Legal Affairs noted in order to be eligible for the service, a medical establishment is required to have at least one-year experience in IVF, and its minimum fertilization processes carried out within a year must reach 300.  After a year, the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology has approved 60 surrogacy applications, with 46 cases performed thus far. The first baby is expected to be born in January 2016. Tu Du Hospital approved 33 applications and performed 19 cases, while Hue Central Hospital has yet to perform any treatments.