Private clinic in HP sealed under PNDT Act

Shimla, Mar 17 (UNI) A private clinic has been sealed and show cause notice issued to another in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh under the Pre-Natal Diagnostics Techniques (PNDT) Act, a senior health official today said.

Shanti Clinic in Theog area of the district has been sealed following irregularities in its records and failure to get itself registered, while show cause notice has been issued to Negi Clinic under the PNDT (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, Shimla Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ram Lal Sharma told UNI.

Asserting that strict action would be taken against all clinics involved in sex determination tests, he however added that so far the task force had found no involvement of these clinics in such tests.

Mr Sharma said the action was taken against these clinics after a routine checking on Thursday.

The task force would continue with its ''surprise visits'' to various clinics in the district to ensure that the Act was being implemented in letter and spirit, he said.

Lauding the district health authorities for sealing the clinic for irregularity in records, the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) said sustained pressure on such clinics would help in checking female feoticide to some extent.

In a joint press release, HGVS President Kuldeep Tanwar and Secretary Jiyanand Sharma said sustained pressure on ultrasonography clinics was necessary to maintain the sex ratio, which had seen a sharp decline in the last few years.

UNI