Gurgaon: An Ayurveda doctor from Sonipat, Haryana, has had his medical licence revoked for violating gender testing laws. The decision was made on Tuesday by health authorities in an effort to enforce regulations designed to protect the girl child. According to Dr. Virender Yadav, Director of Health Services (DHS), the doctor was found in violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. The Council of Indian Medicine cancelled his licence, marking a significant step in ensuring stricter compliance with these laws.
In addition to this action, health officials disclosed that of the total 1,500 MTP centres in Haryana, 379 MTP centres were closed and 16 centres had their registration suspended last month. There has also been a notable decline in the sale of MTP kits across the state, as reported by Yadav. As of April 22, Haryana’s sex ratio stood at 911, according to the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.
Furthermore, Drug Control Officers (DCOs) in Sonipat have been issued a show-cause notice for submitting incomplete or unverified reports and failing to ensure that MTP kits are only sold at approved MTP centres. The DHS emphasized that Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PIGT) should only be conducted with prior approval from competent authorities, and the results of each In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedure must be shared with the concerned civil surgeon monthly.
To address gender imbalances, the Haryana Health Department is set to launch special Beti Bachao Beti Padhao camps on April 25. These will be held in villages where the sex ratio is below 700, aiming to raise awareness about gender equality. The initiative was discussed in a meeting led by Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary of Health, who outlined additional measures to improve the sex ratio in the state.
