This story is from September 1, 2016

Over 1,000 city doctors to join PCPNDT stir

Over 1,000 doctors of the Aurangabad chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday declared their allegiance to the nation-wide strike called by radiologists against the sex determination Act.
Over 1,000 city doctors to join PCPNDT stir
Representative image.
Aurangabad: Over 1,000 doctors of the Aurangabad chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Wednesday declared their allegiance to the nation-wide strike called by radiologists against the sex determination Act.
While over 500 radiologists from the region have decided to join the strike and shut their sonography centres from Thursday, the IMA doctors will also follow suit and only attend to emergency cases.

"Nearly 1,000 doctors, who are members of the Aurangabad chapter of IMA, including members of paediatric, obstetrics and Gynaecologists Association (OBGY), Surgical, Orthopaedic associations and FOGSI from the city have decided to join the strike called by radiologists from Thursday if the latter's demands are not met by the authorities," said Aurangabad chapter IMA president Datta Kadam.
Hundreds of radiologists across the nation have declared an indefinite strike since September 1 against sections of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, alleging that the they are being harassed on the basis of 'draconian' sections of the Act.
While addressing a news conference on Wednesday at IMA Hall in Aurangabad, Pramod Lonikar, secretary general of the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) said, "Radiologists all over India have been extremely co-operative in following the Act, with the noble intention of helping to improve the dwindling sex-ratio in the country. But instead of its intended purpose, it has become another gateway of corruption."

About 95 % of the convictions under the said Act have been for clerical errors. In the few cases where in the perpetrators of sex determination was actually trapped red handed the culprits were quacks and non-qualified doctors using unregistered machines. At regular intervals, many honest radiologists, who did not have even remote connection with sex- determination, have been victimised under the Act for minor clerical errors. This is not only affecting the quality of health services rendered by the radiologists but is also increasing tremendous stress among the doctors, said Marathwada branch, IRIA president said Shaikh Iqbal Minne.
At the outset we would like to put it on record our complete support for the Prime Ministers Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao slogan and we have in fact taken a pledge to constantly work to increase awareness on the evil effects of sex determination and sex selective foeticide on our society. But, we also demand not to book the innocent doctors under the stringent PCPNDT Act for "petty" clerical errors, said Minne.
IRIA and many other doctors associations have time and again called upon the government to amend the Act to remove and amend provisions of the Act which have been used to harass doctors, said Aurangabad chapter IMA secretary, Mahesh Mohrir.
We would like to draw the attention of the government to particular sections of the Act which violate basic rights provided by our Constitution and which equates paper work deficiencies with actual act of sex determination, said Nimme.
"The purpose of PCPNDT Act is to prevent female foeticide and foetal sex determination. But it is distressing that the law is not being implemented in its true spirit. In fact, we demand the authorities to conduct a sting operation and take action against the real culprits," said former Aurangabad IMA president Kuldeepsingh Raul.
Calling for a country wide suspension of ultrasound services from September 1, 2016 to demand urgent amendments in the PCPNDT Act, IRIA has urged the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and other government bodies to fulfil their demands which are harassing the radiologists extremely, should be taken care of immediately, said Pramod Lonokar, IRIA secretary general.
With over 1,000 doctors ceasing the health services on Thursday, medical services in the city are likely to be hit. With the city registering around 64,000 pregnancies every year, over 500 ultrasonography procedures are performed every day in Aurangabad.
"Though OPD, IPD, planned surgeries would not be conducted on Thursday, emergency services will be given," said Kadam.
IRIA demands
1) All clerical errors like not filling up the form, incomplete forms, missing signatures etc should not be equated with sex selective abortion. The doctor cannot be held culpable only because of record keeping error. We want decriminalisation of paper work deficiencies.
2) Clerical errors in Form F/not wearing of apron/non display of notice board/not keeping hand book on PC & PNDT Act should not be equated with Sex Determination and Criminal offence.
3) The Gazette Notification dated 5th June, 2012 regarding restriction to Radiologists for visiting more than two Ultrasound Centers in a district/intimation of change of Radiologist and Equipment one month in advance should be de-notified or suitably amended.
4) Renewal of PCPNDT Registration should not be denied until and unless case is proved in the court of law.
5) Ultrasound machines should not be sealed and medical qualification should not be cancelled on minor clerical errors.
6) Standard interpretation of the law by all the Appropriate Authority (AA) and consistent application of the law. The AA need to follow definite guidelines during inspection. Any sealing of the machine to be done only after the opinion of an Advisory Committee with representatives from all organizations.
7) Presumption of guilt which is part of the act should be dropped.
8) All pending Criminal cases for clerical errors should be immediately reviewed and dropped.
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