Action to be taken under NSA against sonography centres testing embryo

Bhopal: For effective implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, action should be taken against the guilty under National Security Act (NSA). This has been directed by Health Minister and Chairman State Supervisory Board constructed under the Act at its meeting here today. The Health Minister gave this directive to departmental officers in the light of action taken under NSA against an accused by Gwalior Collector recently.

The meeting decided that strict action should also be ensured in other districts against sonography centres conducting embryo’s sex determination tests. The action will be taken under the supervision of collector. Teams will be constituted to continuously inspect such centres. Chief Medical and Health Officer will undertake inspection every week. At the meeting, Rs. 50 thousand prize money was given to Gwalior’s Dr. K.K. Dixit for cooperating in 2 cases.

The meeting was informed that proper action is being ensured in Madhya Pradesh to promote birth of girls under Hamari Bitiya Abhiyan for maintaining equal sex ratio of men and women. During last 10 months, 882 centres were inspected, licences of 30 were cancelled and 23 centres were sealed. In all, 8 cases were put up in courts. State-level inspection and monitoring team has also undertaken inspections. Board’s members Smt. Lalita Yadav and Sushri Nandini Devi were also present on the occasion.

Meeting of managing committee of Rajya Beemari Sahayata Nidhi

Health Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra also chaired a meeting of managing committee of Rajya Beemari Sahayata Nidhi at Mantralaya today. The meeting decided that a patient suffering from multiple diseases will be eligible for assistance second time under the scheme. Similarly, heart patients will be extended immediate assistance for surgery in emergency cases. Other surgery cases will be disposed of within maximum 2 months. Assistance for surgery will be provided on priority to heart patients undergoing treatment at Gandhi Medical College and those belonging to Bhopal and Narmadapuram divisions’ districts Bhopal, Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Hoshangabad, Harda and Betul. Health Minister Dr. Mishra directed to simplify process for sanction of assistance.

It was informed that Rs. 65.18 crore assistance from the fund was provided to 6925 patients last year. Now, collectors have been authorised to sanction upto Rs. 2 lakh. Committee’s non-official member Shri Naval Prajapati, Principal Secretary Health Shri Praveer Krishna, Commissioner Health Shri Pankaj Agrawal, Mission Director NHM Madhya Pradesh Shri Faiz Ahmad Kidwai and Director Health Shri Rajiv Dube were present on the occasion.