Doctors protest against the PC PNDT act
In protest against severe punishment for minor violations in PC-PNDT act, Radiologists, Obstetricians, Cardiologists and other medical professionals using USG machines went on a nationwide strike on April 15th 2015.
Ministry of Health and Family welfare, concerned over decreasing Female:Male ratio, is pulling string over diagnostic radiology setups and professionals under PC-PNDT act for the prevention of determination of sex of foetus and female foeticide.
LUDHIANA: Representatives of Ludhiana Obstetric and Gynaecological Society (LOGS), Ludhiana Imaging and Diagnostic Centres Association (LIDA), Doctors Opposing Sex Selection Termination of Pregnancy (DOSST) and Indian Medical Association, Ludhiana today met the ADC,(D) Shri Supreet Gulati and Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Chhatwal in the wake of the nationwide strike of ultrasonologists against PCPNDT Act in its present form………….
………….Skewed sex ratio is a cause of concern for all sections of society. Inspite of PCPNDT act being in force for more than two decades and its strict implementation rather over implementation and misuse , there is no significant change in sex ratio. The Ultra sound technology is an excellent diagnostic tool for medical fraternity and for patients and has played a significant role in bringing down perinatal morbidity and mortality and maternal morbidity rates.
It is very surprising that for all violations minor or major the punishment is same. Which means that for any clerical mistake in filling up the form or any such minor errors on one hand and or actually doing sex determination, quantum of punishment is the same i.e. your machine is sealed , you are prosecuted.
Our demands:-
1. Ultra sound machine should not come under the purview of PCPNDT act, as it is basic requirement nowadays.
2. For any violation of the PC/PNDT act the punishment should be graded.
3. The parents and close family members who instigate are are actually involved in female foeticide and infanticide should be booked and punished under the law for murder.
4. Because this act has not yielded the desired results for the last two decades, So the actual reasons of deteriorating sex ratio – should be analyzed & corrective action should be taken..
5. Every pregnancy should be tracked from conception till deliveryNASHIK: Radiologists across the city and the district observed a day’s strike on Wednesday seeking amendments to the the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to relieve them of alleged harassment.
Through a memorandum, the Nashik Radiologist and Imaging Association (NRIA) sought help from (Nashik) guardian minister Girish Mahajan, MP Hemant Godse, municipal commissioner Praveen Gedam and civic medical superintendent B R Gaikwad with the amendments.
The radiologists said the PCPNDT Act had become “draconian for all practising sonologists and radiologists” instead of serving the purpose of saving the girl child. They alleged that the Act had become “a harassing tool” in the hands of the authorities implementing it.
Doctors in Bhopal staged a protest on Wednesday against some provisions in the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act that recommends harsh punishment even for minor “clerical” mistakes.
