Hungary’s largest reproductive centre closes down sperm bank

Budapest, January 8 (MTI) – Krio, Hungary’ largest stem-cell and reproductive centre, has closed down its sperm bank after the chief medical officer’s office (OTH) launched an investigation and initiated proceedings against the centre last summer on charges of trafficking in human semen, the daily Magyar Idok said on Friday.

The OTH was alerted in March last year that genetic defects had been found in semen sent to Hungary from Denmark to be used in artificial insemination.

Zsuzsanna Takacs, acting head of Krio Institute, told the paper that donors of the samples had been tested more strictly in Denmark than Hungarian regulations would have required. She said the institute had fulfilled its obligation and filed regular annual reports to the OTH.

But the OTH insisted that Krio broke Hungarian law that prohibits the import of human semen from another country.

The paper noted that six months of proceedings had been finally dropped, but during that period Krio had to suspend its operation and it has since decided to close it altogether. Other clinics specialised in treating infertility were also prohibited from importing semen.

Since the clinics could perform only fewer artificial insemination procedures, several couples seeking to have a child turned to the ombudsman for fundamental rights, the paper said.

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/krio.hu/

Source: https://www.facebook.com/krio.hu/