Raising concern over the advertisements issued by the private and corporate hospitals, the advisory committee of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to take action against such hospitals which violate the norms while releasing advertisements. The meeting of the advisory committee was held on Thursday. Dr Bhavna Sonkusle, nodal officer and officiating deputy director of the health department of the NMC presided over the meeting.
There are several stringent norms for hospitals under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The section 22 of the Act pertains to prohibition of advertisements related to pre-natal determination of sex and punishment for contravention. During the meeting it was found that many hospitals are blatantly violating this clause of the Act. Some hospitals are publishing advertisements related to discount in fees, which too comes under violation of laws
formed by the government. A proposal was passed to take action against the erring hospitals and issue notice to them.
A proposal to take action against the sonography centres which do not fill the Form F in accordance with the PCPNDT Act was also cleared in the meeting. As per the law, it is mandatory for the sonography centres to fill the form F after each test. However, it has been found that there are many sonography centres in the city which are reluctant to comply with this norm. The issue was discussed during the meeting and after due deliberation it was decided to initiate action against erring sonography centres.
The members of the advisory committee also took serious note of the issue of disposal of old sonography machines. It was decided in the meeting that sonography equipment which are now obsolete would be disposed as per the norms and using scientific methods. The NMC health department would send notice to all the diagnostic centres performing sonography in the city seeking details of such outdated and not in use equipment. They would also be asked to deposit the same with the NMC.
Those who do not comply with this notice would face action. The advisory committee also approved seven new sonography centres in the city and ayed modernisation of nine existing centres. At the outset, members of the advisory committee congratulated Dr Sonkusle on taking charge as deputy director.
Members of State PCPNDT committee, gynaecologist Dr Varsha Dhawle, Dr Chaitanya Shembekar, president of radiology society Dr Prashant Onkar, Venkatesh Kaple, law officer NMC, Manish Soni, PRO were present.
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