395 sonography centres sealed in Maharashtra

Mumbai: As many as 395 sonography centres in Maharashtra have been sealed and 95 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) centres de-recognised as part of state government`s drive, sources said.

The drive is aimed at curbing the female foeticide by ensuring strict implementation of the Pre Conception and Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.

Out of the 148 court cases, 69 have been decided and there are 32 convictions. "So far, 20 doctors have been imprisoned in 16 cases and penalty has been imposed in 16 cases," sources in the health department told PTI.

As per the latest report, 15,173 sonography centres and 4,705 MTP centres have been inspected in the first quarter of 2012 in eight districts: Latur, Aurangabad, Akola, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur and Thane.