Latest news with #Pre-ConceptionandPre-NatalDiagnosticTechniques
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Just 10% of target met, govt. plans sex determination inspection reboot
The Delhi government is planning to increase inspections at clinics and diagnostic centres to curb sex determination tests after meeting just 10% of the target. Only 715 inspections out of the planned 7,096 were conducted between April 2024 and March 2025 across 1,774 medical facilities in the city that are registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, according to the Health Department's annual report. To address this gap, the department will urge district authorities to prioritise inspections under the Act and form additional teams to conduct them, officials said. The Act mandates quarterly inspection of every clinic, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those conducting sex determination tests. Though Delhi fell short of its annual target, it was still an improvement from the previous year, when just 455 inspections took place across 1,737 facilities such as diagnostic centres, speciality clinics, maternity and ultrasound centres, and IVF clinics and hospitals. Action against violators In March, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had launched a web portal to enhance action against violators of the Act. He said Delhi being the Capital must lead by example in eliminating sex determination practices. The Act applies to medical practitioners (geneticists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, sonologists, radiologists, and imaging specialists) and owners of facilities (genetic counselling centres, genetic clinics, and laboratories), imposing penalties for violations. While ultrasound machines can be used to detect genetic abnormalities and other disorders, using them for sex determination is prohibited under the Act. In 2024-2025, authorities took action against violators, issuing 70 show-cause notices, suspending 13 clinics, cancelling 53 registrations, and sealing 22 ultrasound machines. According to the district annual report, inspections remained low across districts, with the percentage of targets met ranging from 5.69% in North West district to 15.88% in West district. Under the Act, the Central government has to appoint one or more Appropriate Authorities for implementing its provisions. According to a 2014 gazette notification, Delhi's Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates were designated as Appropriate Authorities in their respective districts. Despite attempts via e-mails and calls, The Hindu received no response from authorities across 11 districts on the low rate of inspection. Impact on sex ratio Delhi's sex ratio at birth improved from 896 in 2014 to 922 in 2023, according to the Civil Registration System data. However, despite the overall improvement over the decade, the ratio has been declining steadily since 2020, from 933 that year to 932 in 2021, 929 in 2022, and 922 in 2023. Dr. Neelam Singh, a gynaecologist and member of the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee, constituted under the PCPNDT Act, stressed the importance of quarterly inspections. 'Every clinic is to be checked quarterly and a report is to be made,' she said. She noted that increased inspections in States such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra have led to improved sex ratios, suggesting that stricter enforcement can deter sex determination practices. Doctors at Delhi clinics report that despite the Act being in place for 30 years, they still receive requests to determine the sex of a child, although such requests have decreased over time. A gynaecologist on condition of anonymity said about 10% of couples still request sex determination, but are counselled on its illegality. She said some couples opt to travel to countries like Thailand or the UAE, where sex determination is allowed and gender disclosure is standard practice. 'Ramp up efforts' 'Of late, district authorities are saying they are preoccupied with other tasks,' a Health Department official said, adding that the department will urge them to form more inspection teams and prioritise inspections to improve the sex ratio. The official explained that inspections also include monitoring advertisements for sex determination, random checks of Form F (a mandatory record to track ultrasound scans, where patients and doctors declare no sex determination is done), and noting inconsistencies like missing records. Inspections may also include decoy operations, the official said.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Haryana's crackdown on illegal abortions: Drastic drop in sale of pregnancy termination kits shows it's working
Amid ongoing efforts by Haryana authorities to curb illegal abortions, the sale of MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) kits has seen a sharp decline over the past three months. Compared to the 40,763 kits sold in a fortnight in March, the number has now plummeted to just 470 in the most recent fortnight. Concerned about the state's declining sex ratio—910 girls per 1,000 boys at birth in 2024, the lowest in eight years—authorities have intensified their crackdown on the illegal sale of MTP kits. Along with restricting unauthorised sales, officials are closely monitoring transactions from licensed wholesalers. The state has 32 authorised wholesalers that sell MTP kits to registered MTP centres. Official data shows that between March 1 and 15, Haryana recorded the sale of 40,763 MTP kits, with a staggering 39,000 kits sold in the Sonipat district alone. The trend continued in early April, with 25,721 kits sold between April 1 and 15. However, the numbers declined drastically, with only 1,492 kits sold from April 16 to 28, and further dropping to just 470 between May 27 and June 9. State Drug Controller Manmohan Taneja, speaking to The Indian Express, stated that wholesalers have been instructed to sell MTP kits only to authorised MTP centres and strictly on the recommendation of a registered medical practitioner. 'We have mandated record-keeping for every tablet, and any violations will be dealt with strictly,' Taneja emphasised. During a meeting of the State Task Force (STF) chaired by Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary for Health, Sudhir Rajpal, on Tuesday, officials reported that 29 wholesalers recorded zero sales of MTP kits between June 3-9. In April, Rajpal directed authorities to compile lists of MTP kit wholesalers and their stock, ensuring that sales are restricted exclusively to registered MTP centres. He also ordered inspections of centres conducting MTP procedures on pregnant women with two live girl children, warning that those found guilty of female feticide would face closure. Rajpal further stressed the urgent need for action on show-cause notices issued to MTP centres, urging immediate license cancellations for gynaecologists found complicit in sex-selective abortions. To enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act more stringently, the state has either revoked or seen the voluntary withdrawal of registrations for 300 out of 1,500 MTP centres. Officials caution that terminating a pregnancy can be done surgically or with MTP kits, but self-administering these medications without medical supervision poses severe health risks. Illegal MTP kits, according to sources, are worsening sex-selective abortions in Haryana, exacerbating the already skewed sex ratio. Taneja previously explained that an MTP kit consists of five tablets—one mifepristone and four misoprostol—both classified as Schedule-H drugs, meaning a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner (RMP) is required for purchase. Kit packaging clearly warns: 'To be used only under the direct supervision of a gynaecologist.' Officials anticipate that the impact of recent initiatives will become evident by August-September, leading to an improvement in the sex ratio at birth. For the week of June 3-9 this year, the child sex ratio at birth was recorded at 943 girls per 1,000 boys. During a State Task Force (STF) meeting on May 20, the sex ratio for the preceding week was noted at 922, while on April 10, it stood at 911 girls per 1,000 boys. However, officials involved in the campaign emphasise that these figures reflect temporary fluctuations and suggest waiting a few more months to assess a meaningful and sustained change in the sex ratio at birth. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Suspended Haryana SMO reinstated after 57 days
The Haryana government has reinstated suspended senior medical officer (SMO), Dr Prabhu Dayal after a period of 57 days. Dr Dayal who was the nodal officer for Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act in Hisar was placed under suspension for 'not doing enough to stem the dip in the state's sex ratio'. A June 5 order issued by the state government said that Dr Prabhu Dayal who was placed under suspension on April 9 is reinstated in service with immediate effect without prejudice to the disciplinary proceedings pending against him. On his reinstatement, Dr Dayal was posted at Civil Hospital, Hisar against a vacant post, the order said. The Haryana Civil Medical Service (HCMS) association had written to the state government seeking revocation of Dr Dayal's suspension. In a communication to the additional chief secretary, health, the HCMS association had said that Dr Dayal's suspension caused severe mental trauma and defamation not only for the doctor but for the whole HCMS cadre. 'The manner and circumstances under which Dr Dayal was suspended without preliminary inquiry or explanation is demoralising for the medical fraternity. We believe that the role of a PC-PNDT nodal officer is a challenging one and must be supported by the administration. Such a punitive action has sent a wrong message to the whole cadre and it will be very difficult to carry out the duties under PC-PNDT Act under such circumstances. This will adversely affect the programme,' said the HCMS association communication.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Nullifying violations of PCPNDT Act should be ensured, says Coimbatore collector
Coimbatore: Dr R M Meenakshi Sundari, the joint director (Acts) of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DM&RHS), Chennai, has stressed the need to strictly enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act. "Although the Act is in force, achieving 100% compliance remains a challenge," Dr Sundari said while addressing a one-day training programme for medical staff from across the Coimbatore region in the city on Thursday. Health officials, medical practitioners, and representatives of diagnostic centres from both government and private sectors from Tirupur, Nilgiris, Erode and Coimbatore districts participated in the programme. District collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar released an exclusive PCPNDT Act book during the programme. While addressing the participants, the collector said, "The Act pertains to addressing the ethical and social issues of sex determination of a child. Due to the effective enforcement of this Act, Tamil Nadu has been showing a better sex ratio when compared to other states. Even then, achieving 100% compliance and nullifying violations of this Act should be ensured, for which the training programme is necessary. The programme is organised to underscore the legal nuances and provide a platform to discuss the improvements or changes required in the Act. " Dr Sundari presented a few litigation cases from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 that led to streamlining the Act and providing clarity on its enforcement.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Crackdown on centres performing gender determination tests
Hyderabad District Collector Anudeep Durishetty has issued a stern warning that strict legal action will be taken against ultrasound scanning centres found conducting illegal gender determination tests. Addressing officials during a review meeting of the District Appropriate Authority Committee under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, the Collector highlighted the need for strict adherence to the law. The Collector also directed officials to intensify surveillance, instructing the formation of 15 teams to monitor the operations of scanning centres across the district. He advocated for more frequent decoy operations to catch violators and stressed the importance of documenting every pregnant woman's scan and submitting the data online on the same day. 'Only qualified doctors must conduct scans using approved equipment, and any changes in staffing, records, or machinery should be immediately reported to the District Medical and Health Officer,' he said. Violations will result in criminal cases and hefty fines, he said. Recent inspections have already led to action. An unauthorised scanning machine was seized from New Life Hospital in Secunderabad, and a case was registeredt. Similarly, Vivek Hospital in Saidabad was fined ₹2 lakh for operating two unregistered machines. In total, 26 centres were fined ₹50,000 each for various rule violations, with the warning that repeat offences would lead to registration cancellations, said a release. To strengthen public involvement, citizens have been urged to report any violations or suspicions related to gender determination through the toll-free number 1800-599-3366.
