NISA Premier Hospital, Abuja, has urged the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and surrogacy to address unethical practices, misconceptions and protect patients.
The Group Managing Director of NISA Medical Group, Dr Musa Shuaibu, made the call in an interview in Abuja, stressing the need for public education to improve understanding of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
He said cultural beliefs, religious considerations and misinformation continued to influence perceptions of fertility treatment, despite growing acceptance among educated Nigerians.
Shuaibu also warned that unqualified practitioners could undermine public confidence in fertility services and urged journalists to consult medical experts before reporting on the procedures.
He stressed that infertility could affect either partner, adding that both men and women should undergo medical investigations to identify the causes.
The medical expert dismissed claims that children conceived through IVF were biologically different from those conceived naturally, explaining that the procedure uses the same reproductive cells to assist fertilisation.
He further clarified that IVF and surrogacy were distinct procedures, although they could be combined when another woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents.
According to him, surrogacy can also lead to emotional and legal disputes, particularly when gestational carriers refuse to hand over babies after delivery.
He said clear regulations were necessary to establish professional standards, protect patients and children, and prevent unqualified operators from providing fertility services.
Shuaibu added that NISA was open to partnerships that could help make fertility treatment more affordable for couples.
