Medical Education / Hospital / Doctors

119 Ultrasound centres sealed in Bihar

“Civil surgeons of all the six districts will have to keep a regular vigil against the illegal practice of prenatal sex determination,” he said.

The Health Master

May 24, 2023

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Ultrasound PNDT Hospital Doctor — Picture: Pixabay

Last Updated on May 26, 2023 by The Health Master

Patna: Altogether 119 ultrasound centres have been sealed in the state in the last two days for conducting illegal prenatal sex determination tests.

A major crackdown has been initiated by the health department along with the local administration after six districts showed an alarming decrease in the sex ratio.

The department has also given a two-day ultimatum to three major medical college and hospitals to adhere to the cleanliness and sanitation norms or face the music.

Asked about the mega drive against the diagnostic centres across Bihar which reveal the sex of the unborn child, health department secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh said the National Family Health Survey 5 data showed 19 districts in the state having poor sex ratio.

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Taking cognizance of this data, a meeting was called by the chief secretary, followed by another meeting with the district magistrates and civil surgeons.

Altogether 119 ultrasound centres have been sealed in six districts, including:

Muzaffarpur (43),
Araria (28),
Buxar (18),
Saran (15),
Aurangabad (11)
Nawada (4).

Singh said there are two ways that the illegal method is practiced, one by the centres running without any license and another by licensed centres but the doctors do not serve, rather technicians operate.

Meanwhile, Patna divisional commissioner Kumar Ravi has also ordered a thorough inspection of all ultrasound centres running in the six districts under the division from Wednesday to ensure ban on prenatal sex determination tests under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

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Ravi asked the DMs and SSPs of Patna, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur and Rohtas to constitute teams of doctors, magistrates and police officers who will inspect ultrasound centres in blocks and suburban areas.

“The erring centres should be sealed and action should be taken against the guilty doctors and employees under the guidelines issued by the health department,” Ravi said while addressing a meeting of DMs and other officers of the division.

NextExpressing concern over drop in child sex ratio after birth, he said it was an issue warranting serious action. He cited the cases with Rohtas and Buxar where the ratio declined from 885 to 872 and 962 to 886 in the National Family Health Survey 4 and 5.

“Civil surgeons of all the six districts will have to keep a regular vigil against the illegal practice of prenatal sex determination,” he said.

There are at least 1,170 ultrasound centres in the division, including: