Prenatal sex determination is a punishable offence, and strict action will be taken against violators, warned District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. M. Satish Kumar.
He was speaking at the PC & PNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act) Advisory Committee meeting held at his office recently.
Emphasising the need to maintain gender balance in society, Dr. Satish Kumar stated that prenatal sex determination must be strictly prohibited. He also highlighted the importance of regular health check-ups for pregnant women to ensure both maternal well-being and healthy fetal development.
District Enforcement Officer Dr. N. Anand informed that there are 28 registered scanning centres in the district, which are regularly inspected. He added that two new applications for setting up scanning centres have already been reviewed through site inspections.
The committee also resolved to conduct inspections of centres seeking re-registration.
Dr. Somashekar, gynaecologist and obstetrician at Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, stressed the need for frequent surprise inspections. He noted that only qualified specialists in maternal and child health should conduct scans, and public awareness must be increased on this aspect.
He further emphasised proper maintenance of records, including names, addresses, and visit timings of patients, along with ensuring regular medical check-ups. Â Committee member K.N. Nalini Kumar reiterated the need for continuous monitoring, including inspection of newly proposed centres. Members GourammaMadammayya and Joyce Manages also shared insights on regulatory compliance and functioning of scanning centres.
