The hectic campaign against pre-natal sex determination has received a shot in the arm with the Karnataka government deciding to implement the Union government's Pre-Natal Diagnostic Act (PNDT), 1994 more stringently against Genetic Clinics that reveal the gender of the baby before birth.

Dr. A B Malakaraddy, minister for health and family welfare told pharmabiz.com that there are over 900 Genetic Clinics, which are also referred to as Genetic Counselling Centres in Karnataka, and a majority of them have turned out to be a menace.

Established as diagnostic centres and equipped with ultrasonography facilities, the genetic clinics are misusing the provisions of the law by enabling gender selection of the foetus, said Dr. Malakaraddy.

Majority of the Genetic Clinics are cashing in on the Indian penchant for male babies by allowing couples to choose the gender of their child through the pre-natal sex determination facilities offered by them. "The possibility of female foeticide being terminated is quite high," he added.

Dr. Malakaraddy attributed the cause for misuse of ultrasonography to the laxity in the implementation of the PNDT Act, which has come into effect from 1996.

Deciding to go hammer and tongs against genetic clinics that reveal the baby's gender before birth, the state health minister warned "any doctor who has either determined the sex of the baby before birth or has terminated the foetus after determining the sex is liable for three years imprisonment."

On the other measures taken to streamline the system, Dr. Malakaraddy said, it is mandatory for all Genetic Clinics to register themselves with the respective District Health Offices. The clinics should indicate the reason for the using ultrasonography and also mention the name of the clinics in the register available with the District Health Offices.

The clinics should furnish in details of the reasons for use of the ultrasonography and also provide the adequate details in the register maintained by the District Offices. The activities of these Genetic Clinics will be monitored by the District Advisory Authorities, he said. Of the 900 genetic Clinics surveyed already 300 were registered, he informed.