Four ultrasound clinics were sealed recently in Sundargarh district for violating the rule. The drive was undertaken in a bid to discourage pre birth sex identification as these ultrasound clinics had been allegedly encouraging sex determination and termination of female foitesides. The district administration has sealed 15 ultrasound clinics since 2007 including the four clinics sealed recently.
Sources said as per the provision of Pre Conception & Pre Natal Diognastic Technique (PC &PNDT) Act, 1994, use of portable ultrasound machines is banned. The Health and Family Welfare Department, Sundargarh used to keep a close watch on various ultrasound units in the district over last few years. On the other hand, ultrasound machines being used for diagnosis of several diseases have become very common. These machines are widely used by the private nursing homes and hospitals, even in rural areas of the district, source added.
Even if the use of portable machines was banned since 1994 as per PC & PNDT Act 1994, the use of these machines is still in practices in several places. The ultrasound clinics which were sealed include Sarada Ultra Sound Clinic, Rajgagnpur, Prasanti Diagnostic, Rourkela, Abhay Clinic, Rourkela and Shanti Seva Sadan, Rajgangpur.
“As per PC&PNDT Act 1994, we have sealed these machines in four ultrasound clinic recently. We will also initiate legal action against the persons who are involved in its operation,” said Assistant District Medical Officer, Sundargarh, Umesh Chandra Guru.