‘Awareness of PCPNDT Act key to reducing female foeticide'
Madurai: Health department staff including gynaecologists and radiologists are often not well-versed with the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act due to which they face various legal issues, said Dr J Rajamoorthy, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS).
He was speaking at a special meeting and training workshop for health department staff of Madurai and five other southern districts here on Wednesday.
"It also leads to
female foeticide
. In some districts like Dharmapuri and Salem, the sex ratio is such that there are much fewer girls than boys. Steps taken because of this act have greatly helped reduce female foeticide in recent times," he added. He said awareness among public and health staff about the Act is key to reducing female foeticide and improving sex ratio at birth.
Experts highlighted the legal provisions and their importance in preventing prevalence of quackery as well.
The workshop was part of an initiative announced in the assembly by the health minister Ma Subramanian to create awareness and educate health department staff on PCPNDT Act and bring down female foeticide. On the discreet or symbolic methods being used by scan centres to reveal the sex of unborn foetus, the DMS said practising doctors can face punishments in case of violations even if the patient was willing.
Dr K Senthil, state president, TNGDA, elaborated on Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act as well. Dr R Selvaraj, JDHS, Madurai, Dr L Arul Sundaresh Kumar, dean, Madurai Medical College, and officials and staff from Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivanganga, and Virudhunagar districts were present. A handbook on PCPNDT Act was released and distributed to all participants.
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