JAMMU: Secretary Health and Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, today reviewed the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex selection) Act, 1994.
Directorates of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir gave a brief presentation on the district-wise status of implementation of provisions of the PCPNDT Act.
Secretary emphasized that gender bias and sex determination is a critical public health concern which can be regulated through the effective implementation of the PCPNDT Act for which a comprehensive action strategy needs to be devised and monitored.
He instructed the Directorates to conduct an assessment of all the registered ultrasound clinics for their conformity to the PCPNDT Act. It must be ensured that all the provisions of the PCPNDT Act should be strictly implemented in letter and spirit, he added.
He also asked the Chief Medical Officers to consider the cancellation of those entities which are found deficient in terms of any provision of the Act. Further, Director Health Services and CMOs were asked to study the last five years’ HMIS data for district-wise trend analysis of sex ratio at birth. They were also asked to introspect and come up with a micro plan to improve Sex Ratio.
Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir were asked to furnish a comprehensive proposal to the Administrative Department in consultation with the Mission Director, National Health Mission with regard to the constitution of Appropriate Authority and Appellate Authority as per the PCPNDT Act.
Secretary also directed the concerned to ensure that Unique identification AB-HFR and AB-HPR is created for all the Ultrasound clinics and medical professionals (Sonologist) handling the ultrasound equipment in Jammu and Kashmir under Ayushmaan Bharat Digital Mission in a time-bound manner.
Further, both the Director Health Services and Chief Medical Officers were asked to take up the matter with respective Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners with regard to holding of Statutory Body/Regulating Body meetings under the PCPNDT Act on a regular basis.
Mission Director National Health Mission was asked to liaise with respective experts in the Government of India for the conduct of offline seminars/workshops and training of Chief Medical Officers, Block Medical Officers and other officials with regard to the implementation of the PCPNDT Act.
The meeting was attended by the Mission Director, NHM, J&K, Deputy Director Schemes, Jammu, Nodal Officers (PC&PNDT) Directorate of Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers (All), and other officers and officials from the Health Medical Education Department.
