The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has, in an office order, directed all the facilities engaged either partly or exclusively in counselling or conducting the diagnostic techniques / procedures / tests to register any equipment / technique capable of sex selection under Section 18 (1) of Pre-Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (“PC & PNDT Act”). All the registered facilities are also required to maintain and preserve records as per rule 9 of PC – PNDT Act, 1994 ( Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1996.
Background
The Central Supervisory Board, in its 26th meeting has held that all the facilities engaged either partly or exclusively in counselling or conducting the diagnostic techniques / procedures / tests with the potential of sex selection are required to be registered under the PC & PNDT Act.
The Diagnostic machines have a possibility of upgradation and there is a likelihood of attaching multiple probes in the ultrasound machine and hence that could be misused to detect the sex of the foetus.
Section 18 (1) of PC & PNDT Act:
“No person shall open any Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic including clinic, laboratory or centre having ultrasound or imaging machine or scanner or any other technology capable of undertaking determination of sex of the foetus and sex selection, or render services to any of them after the commencement of PNDT ( Regulation and Prevention of misuse) amendment Act, 2002 unless such centre, Laboratory or clinic is duly registered under the Act”
Source : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
