The National Steering Committee on PCPNDT Act is concerned over the Centre's move to make the new regulation almost impossible for running of ultrasound clinics. The Committee has called for an amendment to the regulation because doctors feel they would be harassed and are afraid of the penal provisions like jail term for minor clerical mistakes even if it is unrelated to female sex selection.
In this regard, the Committee said an urgent meeting of the central supervisory board should be held to consider its views, failing then would have a pan India protest from November 16, 2016 .
The Committee pointed out that doctors performing ultrasound are subjected to extreme hardship while performing essential and routine scans. Many qualified doctors refrain from scanning thus creating a shortage of experts trained in ultrasonography.
PNDT Act failed to control the female sex ratio as indicated by the Committee at its 3rd meeting held at IMA House, New Delhi. The deliberations were led by a panel of experts comprising Dr S S Aggarwal, president, IMA National President and co-chaired by Dr Alex Thomas Executive Director, Association of Health Care Providers of India. Also present were Dr Marthanda Pillai, Past President, IMA, Dr RN Tandon, Dr Pravin Gogia, IMA; Dr OP Bansal & Dr Sudhir Gupta, Indian Radiological & Imaging Association, Dr Suresh Seshadri, Indian Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, Dr Kaberi Banerjee, FOGSI & Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, Dr Girdhar Gyani and Dr VC Shanmuganandan, AHPI and Dr Rohtas Yadav from Association of All Indian Health Sciences Universities.
The panel informed the government that though ultrasound, is cost-effective, life saving and an efficient point-of-care diagnostic tool, it should be available for the benefit of patients. Usage of ultrasound in specialities other than obstetrics should not be brought under the purview of the PCPNDT Act. Those found to be involved in sex selection should be severely punished, registration and membership should be cancelled.
The experts from the Committee have been in talks with the Union government from May 23, 2015 at Bengaluru. They launched a ‘Campaign 950’ to help stake holders raise the 0-6 years female sex ratio to at least 950.
The PNDT Act was introduced in 1994 and amended in 2003 to curb sex selection and female foeticide, by regulating the use of ultrasound technology. Over the last 22 years, there has been no change in the sex ratio and therefore it is high time to introspect and find alternatives, said the expert panel adding that WHO too restricted use of technology to correct the altered sex ratio.