Sex-selection clinics to be put out of business soon

The days of "sex-selection shops" in India are numbered. 

The Union health ministry on Saturday askedMedical Council of India (MCI) to put in place a tough accreditation system for institutes that teach people how to use ultrasound machines. 

Now, under the Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, besides a sonologist, imaging specialist and radiologist, anybody with a six months training or a one-year experience in sonography or image scanning can use an ultrasound machine. 

This, the ministry says, has led to the emergence of several bogus institutions that train people how to use ultrasound machines for sex selection. Bogus certificates are also being issued, helping the racket to thrive. 

A ministry official said, "Many such fake institutes conduct 15-day courses that teach people how to do sex selection using ultrasound machines and hand them a six month or one-year certificate." 

He added, "MCI has been asked to prepare a framework that will specify which institutes will get accredited to conduct training for use of ultrasound machines, what would be the content of the training course and what kind of certification will be given." 

Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "I would expect that MCI would urgently ensure that guidelines for accreditation of training and experience are put in place quickly. MCI would also need to ensure that errant doctors are suspended and their registrations cancelled immediately." 

Several other important decisions were also taken in the CSB meeting on Saturday. 

Mobile ultrasound machines will no more be allowed, and the ministry is working on the modality. 

At present, ultrasound machines are carried in a vehicle from district to district across state borders, mainly to conduct sex selection. Now, machines cannot be taken out from where it has been registered. 

The meeting also gave more teeth to the 28-member National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC). "Appropriate authorities" like a district magistrate have been empowered to file a case and punish those involved in sex selection. However, under section 28 of the Act, NIMC, which has four sub-committees each having seven members, can file a case and punish those guilty if the "appropriate authorities" try to cover up or set the culprits free. 

The health ministry has also asked the ministry of Information Technology to block all websites that advertise sex-selection techniques. 

The moves come at a time when India's child sex ratio has declined by 17 points from 962 to 945 between 1981 and 1991. The provisional data from the latest 2011 Census shows the ratio stands at 914 girls for every 1,000 boys in the 0-6 age group. 

"NIMC will undertake surprise inspections across states. I would urge that professional bodies such as FOGSI, IPAA and Indian Medical Association should act as watchdogs and effectively discipline the erring doctors through a code of conduct," Azad added. 

Quarterly progress reports submitted by the states show 42,190 medical units have been registered, 298 machines sealed and seized for violations and 843 court cases filed and 55 convictions secured under PC&PNDT Act.