The state health department has decided to closely monitor, the In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) labs in Uttarakhand under Pre -Conception and Pre -Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) act -1994, in order to effectively control the practice of sex determination of unborn child. In Uttarakhand there are 14 registered IVF labs. As of now, the department monitors the ultra sound labs under the provisions of the act. A decision in this respect was taken in a meeting of State level Supervisory Board for effective implementation of PCPNDT act at state secretariat on Monday.
The meeting was presided over by the chief minister Trivedra Singh Rawat. In the meeting, the CM categorically said that the act should be implemented strictly in the state. He directed that the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) of all districts should be asked to submit the list of the ultrasound machines in their areas. Rawat said that every ultra sound machine should be tagged with a GPS tracker. He said that both the manufacturing and the supply firms should be registered compulsorily. Underlining the importance of creating public awareness on pre- natal sex determination, Rawat said that the officials of health department and district magistrates should undertake necessary steps in this direction. The CM stressed the need for doing every possible effort for increasing the sex ratio in the state.
He directed that an effective system of registering births and said that all institutional deliveries should be registered within 48 hours and births in the Nagar Palika and Panchayats should be registered within 21 days. Highlighting the importance of public awareness on the issue, the CM suggested that hoardings and baby boards should be erected in all hospitals. He said that the reasons for poor sex ratio in some districts should be investigated.
It was decided in the meeting that campaign to conduct raids on ultrasound centres should be undertaken from time to time so that the violation of PCPNDT act is prevented. The officials informed that in Uttarakhand 659 ultrasound machines are operational in 413 registered centres. It was informed that the sex ratio which was 906 in year 2015-16 in Uttarakhand has increased to 938. The officials admitted that improvement in sex ratio is required in Champawat, Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts.
In the meeting Bhagwanpur MLA Mamta Rakesh, Additional chief secretary Radha Raturi, Secretary Health, Nitesh Jha, additional secretary Law, Ritesh Srivastava, mission director, NHM Yugal Kishore Pant, secretary state level supervisory board, Dr Saroj Naithani and representatives of some women organisations were present.