The Shillong Times, Meghalaya, June /17/2015
Enforcement of Prohibition of Sex Selection Act dismal
SHILLONG: A four-member team from the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) which visited the State in March, has indicated that the appropriate authority in Meghalaya has not taken cognizance of various instances of violations of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.
The Committee which visited eight hospitals in Shillong and Jowai, established various anomalies with regards to adherence to PCPNDT Act, and directed the State Health and Family Welfare department to take corrective actions and expedite the filing of court complaints against non complying hospitals and nursing home identified by the Committee.
During their visit to NEIGRIHMS, the Committee found that seven Ultra Sonography (USG) machines, out of which two were portable USG machines, were not registered separately.
The Committee also observed that all machine numbers were not included in the registration certificate and the required hoarding displaying penalties as per the PCPNDT Act was not seen outside the hospital building. Besides, form F was not being maintained properly by the NEIGRIHMS authority.
During its visit to Woodland Hospital, Shillong, the Committee observed that hoardings were not displayed properly and it did not contain proper texts. Besides, separate registers of pregnant women undergoing USG was not maintained.
Later, the committee visited Civil Hospital and observed that the copy of PCPNDT Act was not available and two out of three machines were not listed in the certificate.
As per the Committee, the authorities of Bethany Hospital, Shillong, were not maintaining separate registration of the portable USG machines; besides hoardings were not displayed properly. The hospital was also not maintaining a separate register of pregnant women for USG.
The Committee also visited Ganesh Das Hospital and observed that one USG machine was not included in the certificate.
At the Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital in Jowai, the Committee observed that the Sonologist was not qualified and demanded that she should be changed. Besides, two USG machines were not listed in the registration certificate, and form F was also not being maintained.
As per the Committee, the qualification certificate of the Radiologist at Woodland Medical Centre, Jowai, was not displayed.
The Committee also visited Jowai Civil Hospital and found that the Sonologist was not qualified. Besides, hoardings were also not displayed.
