Violations under PC&PNDT Act: Medical license of 142 doctors suspended up to March 2020, informs MoS Health

The Minister was responding to queries during a recent parliamentary session regarding sex determination tests being conducted illegally in the country, and the steps taken by the Government to discourage the said practice.

Responding to the same, Choubey explained that in order to check the illegal use of Pre-conception and Prenatal diagnostic techniques for sex-selection leading to female foeticide, the Government of India is implementing the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PC&PNDT) Act, 1994 through the states and UTs.

"As per the information received in the Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs), from States/UTs, up to March 2020 total 4641 cases have been filed for various violations under the PC&PNDT Act, out of which 3107 are pending in various district courts and 1534 have been disposed of. Further, up to March 2020, a total of 607 convictions have been secured and following convictions, the medical license of 142 doctors has been suspended," The Minister added.

He further stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is taking the following steps /initiatives to ensure the effective implementation of the PC&PNDT Act, 1994 so that the illegal practice of sex determination is eliminated/ curtailed:

1. Regular monitoring of diagnostic Centres/Clinics/ Labs through visits of Inspection and Monitoring Committees.

2. Regular Review of implementation of the law at the National/State /District level.

3. Capacity building of implementing officers and sensitization of public prosecutors.  Mechanisms are formulated at the National/ State level to monitor illegal e-advertisement for sex –selection on the internet.

4. Providing incentives for community informers and conducting decoy operations to uncover the illegal practices of sex selections at the State and UT level.

5. Rendering financial support to the States/UTs for strengthening implementation mechanisms of the Act. The Government of India, besides enactment of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 has adopted a multi-pronged strategy, through gender-sensitive policies and is taking all efforts to enhance convergence with the Scheme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) which aims to bring about progressive mindset in society, favoring the girl child.

Further, as per the information received from the National Crime Record Bureau, data on female foeticide is not available however, cases reported for foeticide during the last three years are provided as below:

To access the official statement click on the given link-

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-135053.pdf

Also Read: Violation of PCPNDT Act: Bhatinda Hospital raided, action to be taken