The Health Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken strict action by sealing 14 sonography centres over the last two months due to various discrepancies. These centres, which are crucial for providing essential medical services, were sealed for durations ranging from two to seven days as a consequence of the identified irregularities.
The PMC is responsible for overseeing the functioning of sonography centres in the city and has a total of 776 registered centres under its jurisdiction. In the course of regular inspections, discrepancies were detected in 14 of these centres, leading to prompt action by the authorities.
The discrepancies that prompted the PMC to take such action included:
- Non-completion of Form F: Form F is a mandatory document that must be completed for all sonography procedures. Failure to do so was one of the key reasons for sealing these centres.
- Absence of Signatures: Proper documentation requires signatures from the relevant doctor and, if applicable, the pregnant woman undergoing the procedure. Lack of these essential signatures raised concerns.
- Incomplete or Missing Documents: Complete and accurate documentation is imperative for medical procedures. In cases where documents were incomplete or missing, the PMC deemed it necessary to take action.
- Incomplete Record Books: Accurate record-keeping is vital in the medical field. Centres with incomplete record books were found to be non-compliant.
- Delayed Monthly Reports: Regular reporting is a fundamental requirement for monitoring medical practices. Centres that failed to submit their monthly reports on time were also part of the focus of these actions.
In a stern move, the PMC has not only sealed these centres but has also communicated a clear warning that further actions will be taken if the guidelines are not adhered to.
Dr. Suryakant Devkar, Assistant Health Officer, shared insights into the decision-making process behind these actions, stating that the advisory committee thoroughly discussed the matter and collectively decided to take strong action against the centres that were found to be operating outside the established norms.
In the interest of the public’s health and well-being, the PMC has encouraged patients to opt for registered sonography centres that strictly adhere to the established guidelines. This move is aimed at ensuring the safety and quality of medical procedures, ultimately benefiting the community at large.
