Requests pour in to PMC from radiologists seeking cancellation of licences.
While history was created in Pune on Thursday with a radiologist getting a jail term after conviction for conducting sex selective tests, officials in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) confirmed that fear of repercussions is slowly taking roots in the mind of doctors, especially radiologists.
As many as 19 ultrasound clinics have written to the PMC seeking cancellation of their licences and sealing of their sonography machinesas they are no more functional. DNA uncovered this fact when information was sought from civic officials about registered ultrasound clinics and sonography machines.
“It is true that the number of ultrasound clinics have reduced. In some cases, the civic body has taken action, while in many cases doctors have themselves sent applications seeking cancellation of licences or sealing of machines. That is because they aren’t in use any more,’’ said Dr Vaishali Jadhav, assistant health officer in the PMC.
According to a source in the PMC health department, the proactive approach in reporting from nursing homes is because of stricter checks and seriousness from state and civic officials over implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.
“Officials are now closely monitoring sonography machines and nursing homes, acting on tip-offs and conducting raids. Doctors are fearful of repercussions if it is found that the clinic isn’t working or the machine is registered and used for other purposes. The clinic is expected to submit monthly reports to the PMC and if it is noticed that some clinics are not sending them, they are probed, which is also a deterrent,’’ said the source.
While 100 ultrasound clinics were issued notices last month by the PMC to send monthly reports or face de-registration, action is yet to be taken in this regard. “Taking action is a long process and we are concentrating on improving the monthly reporting
system,’’ said Jadhav.
Of the 403 registered ultrasound clinics, only 303 had sent their monthly reports in October. In November, there was a slight improvement with 317 ultrasound clinics sending monthly reports. The numbers have been steadily increasing since August 2011, when only 260 centres had sent reports.
“The increase in number of clinics sending monthly reports is also an indication of awareness and fear of action against errant clinics under the PCPNDT Act,’’ said the source.
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