The state is evaluating other technical options to curb illegal sex determination.
The state is evaluating other technical options to curb illegal sex determination.
After much hoopla over 'silent observers', which were installed in a pilot experiment in all Sonography machines of Kolhapur District last year to record patients’ data online, the health department is now evaluating another device called ‘active tracker' which works on GPS/GPRS system.
Active tracker enables online monitoring of sonography and if it is detached, an SMS alert is received at main centre. On Thursday evening, experts had a look at the system by its manufacturer at St George's Hospital. Two such devices had already been installed in Kolhapur couple of months ago.
Health officials believe that the new device will be less controversial and can't be tampered with as all the data can be tracked through GPS/GPRS.
Going a step ahead to curb illegal abortion of girl foetus, the government is now going to ask all the manufacturers of sonography machines to develop and integrate a high-tech device which can keep a vigil eye on all the ultrasounds performed through the machine and which can be tracked by a central monitoring system. If implemented, no machine will come out from the factory without such devices, at least in Maharashtra. This decision was taken on Thursday in Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques State Supervisory Board meeting at Sahyadri guest house.
“Silent observers are detachable. Once they are detached, machine can be misused determining sex of the foetus. Fix device can record every procedure," said Suresh Shetty, minister of Public Health and chairman of the Board.
The state may also bring all CT scan and MRI centres under PCPNDT act purview. United Nations Population Fund head Dr DK Mangal said:" These imaging machines are already under PCPNDT Act. However, CT can't be used on pregnant women, but MRI can be misused."
Meanwhile, actors Ajay Devgn and his wife Kajol will be brand ambassadors in the state's campaign to save the girl child.
They will tour the state to promote the cause. Devgn will also produce a two-minute film on this issue for free.
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