Training mandatory for docs before opening sonography centre

The decision was taken at the 19th meeting of Central Supervisory Board (CSB) held today under the chairmanship of Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The CSB is the highest decision-making body for looking into the issue of low sex ratio.

The meeting also approved a 300-hour syllabus for such a certificate course for doctors, which comes in place of the mandatory six-month training proposed for doctors wanting to set up sonography centres.

This syllabus has been proposed by an expert committee of doctors which included experts from the Medical Council of India (MCI). The course will have to be done from any of the centres of excellence set up by the Central government or at any of the Medical Colleges approved by MCI and institutions approved for DNB degree by the National Board of Examinations.

Addressing the meeting, Azad said the government has been successful in securing the commitment of all states to effectively address the issue of low child sex ratio and thus efforts to curb the menace of foeticide were to be scaled at all levels, including the district level.

Azad said, "We need to focus on turning these commitments into reality so that we have a secure nation for women and girls