Udupi: Udupi deputy commissioner T K Swaroopa has directed officials to issue licences for ultrasound scanning centres only to institutions that strictly comply with the provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.
She issued the instructions during the PCPNDT District Level Competent Authority Committee meeting and the District Level Private Medical Institutions Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority meeting held at Rajatadri, the district office complex in Manipal.
The deputy commissioner emphasised that the PCPNDT Act was implemented to ensure better healthcare services while preventing illegal prenatal sex determination and female foeticide. She warned that any violations of the Act would invite strict legal action.
Display of permissions and radiologist details mandatory
During the meeting, T K Swaroopa instructed all ultrasound and scanning centres to prominently display details of radiologists performing duties at their facilities, as required under the PCPNDT Act.
She also directed institutions to compulsorily display government permission letters issued for operating scanning centres. In addition, centres were asked to maintain all mandatory registers and records systematically for inspection and verification purposes.
The deputy commissioner stated that any changes involving scanning machines or radiologists must receive prior approval from the district-level competent authority.
She warned that operating without obtaining proper permission for such changes would be treated as a violation of the Act and legal proceedings would be initiated against the institutions concerned.
Officials told to remain vigilant against sex determination
Highlighting the seriousness of prenatal sex determination offences, the deputy commissioner reminded officials that sex-selective practices and female foeticide are punishable crimes under the law.
She instructed district-level monitoring committees to remain vigilant and ensure strict enforcement of PCPNDT regulations across all registered scanning centres and hospitals in the district.
According to officials, the administration also wants to ensure that pregnant women visiting scanning centres receive timely medical attention and are able to choose doctors without unnecessary delays during check-ups.
T K Swaroopa further directed members of the PCPNDT District Review and Inspection Committee to compulsorily inspect all registered scanning centres and hospitals within a three-month period.
She said any shortcomings or violations found during inspections should result in appropriate action against the institutions concerned.
Hundreds of notices issued to private health institutions
The deputy commissioner also reviewed inspection activities conducted by taluk-level authorised committees across private healthcare institutions in the district.
Officials informed the meeting that inspection committees visited 120 private health institutions in Udupi taluk, 94 institutions in Kundapur taluk, and another 120 institutions in Karkala taluk between September and April.
Following the inspections, notices were issued to several institutions for deficiencies related to fire safety equipment and violations of Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) regulations.
According to official figures:
- 102 notices were issued in Udupi taluk
- 248 notices were issued in Kundapur taluk
- 65 notices were issued in Karkala taluk
Authorities stated that many institutions were found lacking adequate fire safety measures or had failed to comply fully with mandatory healthcare regulations.
Concern raised over declining sex ratio
Expressing concern over the district’s sex ratio, the deputy commissioner noted that Udupi currently records 983 females for every 1,000 males.
She instructed officials to organise awareness and sensitisation programmes highlighting the social problems associated with declining female population figures and gender imbalance.
The administration plans to strengthen awareness campaigns promoting the protection and welfare of girl children while ensuring stricter monitoring of prenatal diagnostic practices.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Basavaraj Hubballi, District Family Welfare Officer K Sriram Rao, Urban Development Cell Project Director Subrahanya, Udupi Municipal Commissioner Mahantesh Hangargi, and other officials were present at the meeting.
The district administration reiterated its commitment to enforcing healthcare regulations strictly and ensuring ethical medical practices across all private health institutions in Udupi district.