Sealed sonography centre foxes govt with videos and charts

NEWDELHI: A month after the Delh government sealed 13 ultrasoun machines and suspended th licence of a radio-diagnosis cen tre in West Delhi’s Janakpuri for illegally training people to use ultrasound machines, the centre has resumed the courses through videos and presentations.

Though providing ultrasound training and certification is in contravention of the Pre-conception Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC PNDT) Act, the Delhi government cannot take action against the centre as it is teaching theory and not using an ultrasound machine for practical demos.

“If no ultrasound machines are being used for the training, the centre will not be answerable to the PC PNDT cell. And, since the course does not promise any degree or diploma in medical education, it will not be governed by the Medical Council of India either. It is like giving tuition classes, which are completely unregulated,” said a senior official from Delhi government’s health department, on condition of anonymity.

The Ultrasound Training Centre, which had a licence to function as a diagnostic clinic only, had been training 300 to 400 people to conduct ultrasound, with demonstration using ultrasound machines, every year without approval from the state government, a surprise inspection in December had found.

That’s when the license of the centre was cancelled and all the 13 ultrasound machines sealed. It was back in business in January. “The fee is Rs 1.5 lakh and you can complete the course in six months. There is also an option for attending regular classes for 29 days and then continuing the rest of the course online. You will get a certificate on completion,” said a representative from the Institute of Ultrasound Training.

“One batch started on January

16, you can join it now. The practical demonstrations, however, were not being done,” the representative said, on enquiry about the course.

Doctors who have completed their MBBS need to undergo a sixmonth training course to work as sonologist, according to the PC-PNDT act.

However, the training can be provided only in centres recognised by the state government.

The six months’ training course is yet to start in Delhi.