Latest news with #PCPNDT)Act
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘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.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- 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.
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.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Officials Vow Strict Action Against Sex Determination: PCPNDT Act Reviewed in Jogulamba Gadwal
Gadwal: A District Advisory Committee meeting on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, was held at the District Medical and Health Department Office in Jogulamba Gadwal under the chairmanship of Dr. S.K. Siddappa, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO). The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the PCPNDT Act and ensuring strict compliance across all departments. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Siddappa emphasized the urgent need to spread awareness at the field level about the ban on sex determination tests and the legal consequences of female foeticide. He urged officials from various line departments to engage with communities regularly to educate people about the Act, especially in rural and remote areas. Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the DMHO stated that any person or medical professional found violating the PCPNDT Act would face up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine of ₹50,000, and non-bailable charges. Repeat offenders could face 5 years in prison and fines up to ₹1 lakh. In addition, the licenses of medical practitioners and the registration of clinics involved could be suspended or permanently cancelled. Dr. Siddappa also called for widespread awareness of related laws, such as the POCSO Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which are crucial for protecting women and children's rights. He further advised that pregnant women experiencing mental health issues should be made aware of the 14416 toll-free helpline, which offers free mental health support. The meeting was attended by key health and welfare officials, including Dr. B. Damayanthi, Professor and HOD, Dr. G. Prasoona Rani, Maternal and Child Health Officer, Tanveer Rizwana, District Immunization Officer, Dr. G. Raju, Program Officer, NCVBDCP, K. Madhusudan Reddy, Deputy DEMO, P. Narendra Babu, DVLM, G. Narasayya, Health Assistant, and B. Narsinglu, District Child Protection Officer. Representatives from the Women and Child Welfare Department, the SAHKI One Stop Centre, and NGOs such as Parashuramudu also participated. The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolution to intensify interdepartmental cooperation, enhance monitoring mechanisms, and ensure that all diagnostic centers strictly adhere to the PCPNDT Act. Officials reiterated their commitment to protecting the rights of the girl child and improving the gender ratio in the district.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Collector expresses concern over PCPNDCT Act violations in Chittoor district
Collector Sumit Kumar on Saturday expressed serious concern over the Medical and Health department's failure to check illegal sex-determination tests in Chittoor district, which surfaced a couple of days ago, leading to the arrest of five persons. Addressing the District-Level Advisory Committee meeting on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act at the Collectorate, Mr. Sumit Kumar criticised the Medical and Health department officials for their lack of coordination and failure to monitor the criminal activity at the grassroots level. District Medical and Health Officer Sudha Rani, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) project officer Venkateswari, and senior officials from the wings of Immunisation, Drugs, and Women Police took part in the meeting. The Collector questioned the officials as to how the reports of illegal sex-determination tests were not reaching them. He observed that it was incompetent on the part of the officials that they could not carry out any field-level awareness camps through the paramedical staff and Anganwadi staff regarding the health status of pregnant women. 'It is unfortunate that, though ASHA and ANM workers operate at the community level, they were unaware of mothers with two or more daughters conceiving again. This is a critical indicator for potential sex-selective practices,' Mr. Sumit Kumar said. Referring to the poor sex ratio in Chittoor, with only 947 females per 1,000 males as per the latest census, the Collector observed that the situation was very alarming when compared to other districts. 'If this continues, the girl-child population would be at a high risk. Saving the girl child is our collective responsibility,' the Collector said. Sumit Kumar highlighted that the ICDS and the DM&HO should conduct joint review meetings with field staff of both the departments and bridge the gap in coordination. The Collector said that the mandals of Nagari, Vijayapuram, Nindra, Karveti Nagaram, Palamaner, Punganur, and V. Kota, which share porous borders with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, were prone to higher instances of illegal abortions in private hospitals. He instructed the Drugs Department personnel to mount surveillance on the unauthorised clinics and medical stores selling drugs without prescriptions. 'Maintain a proper record of all the scanning centres and equipments available with them, along with daily reports of the patients visiting the units,' Mr. Sumit Kumar directed the police officials.
