PMC goes slow on inspection of sonography centres

The 422 sonography and 107 medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) centres in the city are supposed to be inspected every quarter, but the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) continues to go slow on the scrutiny of sonography centres.u00a0Only 282 of the sonography centres have been inspected since April 1. The issue assumes significance in the backdrop of female foeticide incidents in the state, especially in Beed.

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Special cell
To check illegal sex determination tests and female foeticide in the city, the PMC had instituted a special cell to handle such cases under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.

4 docs not enough
The PMC had formed the cell on June 1, 2011, and deployed four doctors for it. "The cell needs a minimum of eight doctors dedicated to the cause," a civic official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. "Four doctors can't concentrate on sonography and MTP centres in the city and continue with several other responsibilities too."

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All 422 sonography centres and 107 MTP centres are to be checked every three months, but the records show a different story. In this quarter starting from April, only 282 of the 422 centres have been checked so far. With 140 centres still left to be inspected and less than 15 working days remaining, a question mark hangs over the seriousness of PMC officials towards the issue of female foeticide.

Of the 107 MTP centres that are authorised to carry out abortions in the second trimester, 27 have been inspected in a week. PMC medical officer Dr ST Pardeshi said, "I will ensure that the remaining checks and raids are done and compiled by month-end."

Dr Kishore Pakhare, head of PCPNDT cell at PMC, said, "I am not very sure about the number of raids conducted till now by the appointed doctors, but all of the sonography and MTP centres will be checked by the stipulated time. Recently, we were too busy because of the female foeticides occurring around the state."u00a0

Clinics not serious about ‘F' form
The PMC, in an attempt to curb down foeticide and infant mortality, had made it compulsory for all ultrasound sonography clinics to fill up form ‘F' online from June 1. The date has had to be extended to July 1 as only 120 of the 422 registered clinics have attended the workshop conducted by the PMC from May 18-24 to train them on record-keeping of patients. Now, the PMC plans to conduct the workshop once again from June 20 to July 3 for those who missed it the first time round.

The ‘F' form contains all information of a pregnant woman, including her medical history and reasons for ultrasound. This can be used to track down results of the pregnancy in case of any untoward incident.u00a0