Altogether 12 Medical Boards in Odisha Medical Colleges for MTP beyond 24 weeks

Bhubaneswar: With an aim to make the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) of more than 24 weeks easier, the State Government of Odisha has decided to set up altogether 12 Medical Boards at 12 Government Medical Colleges and PG Institutes.

While previously, the Medical Board at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack had the authority to provide its opinion on the termination of pregnancies beyond 24 weeks, now the State Health Department has included 11 more government medical institutes including AIIMS Bhubaneswar to this list.

As per the amendments introduced in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks is possible in case of substantial foetal abnormalities. However, in those cases, the diagnosis has to be done by a Medical Board.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in this regard the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 had mentioned, "Every State Government or Union territory, as the case may be, shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a Board to be called a Medical Board for the purposes of this Act to exercise such powers and functions as may be prescribed by rules made under this Act."

Also Read: Performing MTP Beyond 24 Weeks: What Doctors need to know

Issuing an official notification, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare of Odisha, Shalini Pandit said that as per the provisions of the MTP Act, 1971 Act, 1971 (34 of 1971), only the Medical Board at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack had the power to allow or deny termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks after due consideration.

However, it is difficult and time consuming for cases referred from far off places to approach the Medical Board at Cuttack for this purpose and avail timely services, the Government mentioned in the notification. As per the latest media report by Odisha Bytes, referring to the problems, the Government announced about constituting 11 more medical boards at the following institutes:

1. MKCG Medical College & Hospital, Berhampur

2. VSS Medical College & Hospital, Burla

3. FM Medical College & Hospital, Balasore

4. PRM Medical College & Hospital, Mayurbhanj

5. BB Medical College & Hospital, Balangir

6. SLN Medical College & Hospital, Koraput

7. Shree Jagannath Medical College & Hospital, Puri

8. Keonjhar Govt. Medical College & Hospital

9. Sundargarh Govt. Medical College & Hospital

10. AIIMS, Bhubaneswar

11. PG Institute of Medical Education & Research, Bhubaneswar

As per the amendments introduced last year, the medical board needs to consist of the following:

(a) a Gynaecologist;

(b) a Paediatrician;

(c) a Radiologist or Sonologist; and

(d) such other number of members as may be notified in the Official Gazette by the State Government or Union territory, as the case may be.

Also Read: Bombay HC allows woman to abort 26 weeks pregnancy only if Doctors confirm baby won't be born alive