Doctors in Maharashtra demand simplification of F-Form of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, as they found the filling-up of F-Form a tedious and lengthy job. The demand was raised after observing the suspension of many doctors and sealing of ultrasonography machines by the government for clerical mistakes.

F-Form is an important document for maintaining the record in case of prenatal diagnostic test/procedure by genetic clinic/ultrasound clinic and imaging centre. According to PCPNDT Act if the F-Form is found incomplete the ultrasonography machines are seized.

Recently the government has sealed the ultrasonography machine and suspended many doctors across Maharashtra for clerical mistakes which included spelling mistakes in patients' names, for not uploading the form, not wearing aprons and incompletion of F-Form.

Dr Anil Pachnekar, chairman of central working committee, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and past president of IMA-HBI Maharashtra says “We are demanding  the government to simplify the rules and regulations of PCPNDT Act. The rules and regulation should be doctor and patient friendly. Sealing the machines and suspension of the doctors is not right for minor clinical mistakes.”

Dr. Shivkumar S Utture, central working committee member of IMA, says “The sealing of machines and suspension of doctors should be done only when they are found guilty. The machines are sealed and doctors lose its license immediately once the charge sheet is filed against them. The prosecution takes 2 – 3 years to prove the mistakes, till that time the earning and livelihood of the doctors are affected. We have observed in 70 to 80 per cent of the cases the doctors are innocent but till the time it is proved, the doctors are already punished because they cannot practice.”

He further adds “We are not against the punishment for sex determination but the punishment cannot be same for the clerical mistake. We are asking the government to be proactive and actually catch the administrators who are involved in sex determination. Instead of inspecting whether doctors are wearing aprons, name and address of the patient is correctly filled in the form and the forms are uploaded or not, they should conduct the sting operation and catch the actual culprits who are involved in sex determination. The doctors who are not involved should not be punished.”