A recent sex-determination scandal in Pune district has highlighted a disturbing blend of technology and medical malpractice, prompting authorities to call for urgent action. District civil surgeon Dr Nagnath Yempalle has written to the state government, urging a ban on mobile apps that claim to reveal fetal sex. This comes after investigators uncovered a network of practitioners using Chinese phone applications, portable sonography machines, and door-to-door services to circumvent legal safeguards.
Government Action Sought
Dr Yempalle stated, "Fetal sex determination is being conducted via mobile apps despite legal prohibition under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act. I have written to the government to ban such mobile apps and take preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future."
Details of the Scandal
In the most recent case, the alleged ringleader is a Class XII dropout who collaborated with an unethical BAMS practitioner. Officials report that up to 15 other suspected doctors conducted illegal scans in homes and fields without maintaining any records. Dr Yempalle explained, "The medical superintendent of a rural hospital in Shirur, Dr Sachin Dnyaneshwar Dhas, along with the police, were informed about an illegal prenatal sex determination test being conducted at 'Life Care Clinic'. Senior police inspector Santosh Sonawane and a policewoman acted as a decoy couple and contacted the agent involved. They were called to meet in Wagholi for a prenatal sex determination sonography."
How the Operation Unfolded
To conduct the test on the decoy patient, the suspect used a sonography probe machine connected to a mobile phone via Wi-Fi, with the process visible on an app. The suspect was immediately taken into custody, and the materials used for the fetal sex determination and abortion were seized.
Challenges in Enforcement
The senior official noted that technological advancements have made it increasingly difficult to monitor illicit activities. "While it is mandatory to register a sonography machine, portable machines that are illegal remain beyond our reach. Such portable machines and mobile apps have made it harder to track perpetrators. Women who seek these procedures are often unregistered in our system for antenatal care until the date of delivery," Dr Yempalle explained. He added, "I have instructed all medical superintendents in rural hospitals to conduct thorough inspections of registered sonography centres. However, the problem is that illicit activities rarely take place in registered centres. Portable machines and apps have miniaturized sex determination, allowing these activities to occur inside homes or in fields."
The district administration is now focusing on stricter enforcement and technological countermeasures to prevent future violations of the PC-PNDT Act.
