Mumbai, July 1 (IANS). The Maharashtra government on Wednesday launched a crackdown against sonography and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers running without approval across the state to stop illegal sex determination tests and unfair practices.
Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar announced in the Maharashtra Assembly that the state government is planning to impose ‘Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act’ (MCOCA) against law breakers.
The announcement was made during the session when MLA Abu Azmi raised serious concerns about unregulated IVF facilities running across the state.
Other MLAs including Harish Pimple, Ajay Chaudhary, Yogesh Sagar and Rahul Patil also participated in the discussion by asking additional questions.
Minister Abitkar drew attention to the worrying and unnecessary increase in both IVF treatment and unnecessary cesarean section (C-section) deliveries in Maharashtra.
To deal with this, the state will create a comprehensive regulatory framework to ensure that IVF treatment is prescribed only on the basis of medical necessity.
“We adopt a zero-tolerance policy against unethical medical practices. Stringent legal provisions will be brought in, including imposition of MCOCA, to give stringent punishment to those involved in unfair practices in IVF and violation of ‘Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques’ (PCPNDT) Act. This will be applicable on doctors, administrative staff and hospital management found guilty,” the minister said.
The minister informed about the recent action taken by law enforcement agencies. After an illegal gang was busted in Badlapur and Ambernath, the doctors involved in it have been arrested. The minister further said that the state health department has started the process of canceling his medical license forever.
Recently a regional expert committee inspected ‘BabySure Clinic’ and ‘Indira IVF Centre’ in Chandrapur.
“After finding several structural and operational irregularities, both the centers have been ordered to immediately cease their operations until they obtain official ‘Level-1 Assisted Reproductive Technology’ (ART) registration. The matter is currently sub judice,” the minister said.
He told the House that the state government is considering including IVF facility under ‘Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana’ to benefit the poor.
–IANS
SCH/ABM