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Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services

Activities on Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique regulation and prevention of mis-use Act 1994 in Tamil Nadu.

  • Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994 of Government of India was published by a Gazette Notification on 20th September 1994.

  • The Act came into force in Tamil Nadu with effect from 01.01.1996 by a Gazette Notification published on 21.12.1995.
  • A press Notification was published inviting registration under the Act by those who are engaged in Genetic Counselling and other related activities. However it did not evoke much response.
  • In order to enforce the Act more effectively the Government of Tamil Nadu constituted a State Advisory Committee by a Government Order vide G.O.MS No.66 Health dated 06.02.1996. 
  • This was also notified in the Government Gazette.  In G.O. Ms. No.431, Health dated 31.07.1996 the State Government also ordered the constitution of District Advisory Committee.
  • At State level the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services has been nominated as the Appropriate Authority to implement the Act. 
  • At District level the Joint Director of Health Services of the district concerned has been nominated as Appropriate Authority with members.
  • In G.O.Ms.No.431, Health dt.31.7.98, the Government have issued orders constituting District Advisory Committees to advice on implementation of Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994. 
  • The Joint Director of Health Services of the Districts who are the Appropriate Authority and convenors of the Advisory Committees were instructed to convene the meeting of the Advisory Committees and to take suitable action for implementation of the Act. 
  • All the Joint Director of Health Services  have been constituted the Advisory Committee along with a Woman activist nominated in consultation with the District Collector concerned.
  • In the recent press release, the Government have also warned the Doctors who are found indulging in malpractices regarding sex determination are also liable to lose their registration for Medical practice.
  • The Government have also warned that offences under the Act such as non-registration and misusing the equipments to disclose the sex of the foetus are punishable as cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offences punishable upto 3 years of imprisonment and fine upto Rs.50,000/-.  These equipments (Scan) are strictly to be used for diagnostic purpose only.

PRIVATE CLINICAL ESTABLISHMENT ACT

  • In Tamil Nadu the Private Sector Hospitals are well developed.  

  • They range from small clinics to 800 bedded multi specially corporate hospitals. 
  • They are situated throughout the State in all regions but more in thickly populated and afflient Districts like Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy etc and less in economically backward districts like Dharmapuri, Ramanathapuram and also in remote areas like hills etc. 
  • Through there is no exact statistics of their numbers and sizes, it is roughly estimated that there are more than 30,000 medical practitioners in Tamil Nadu excluding 10,000 Doctors in Tamil Nadu Medical Service.
  • Roughly 60% of the outpatient services, 40% of inpatients services and about 60% of laboratory services are provided by the private sector.  The private sector hospitals can be classified into:-
    • Clinics
    • Polyclinics
    • Proprietorship Hospital/Nursing Homes/Maternity Hospitals/Speciality Hospitals.
    • Trust Hospitals
    • Corporate Hospitals
  • The Tamil Nadu Government had enacted an Act known as " Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishment Act 1997 " and which come into force from  April 1997. 
  • There were several rounds of talks between the Representatives of Doctors Associations and the Government.  The Doctors were insisting that the accrediation Council shall consist of only among themselves and no official shall be given any power in the committee which was not acceptable to Government.  However a consensus is now developed and the Association has agreed to most of the points putforth by the Government.

TAMIL NADU STATE ILLNESS ASSISTANCE SOCIETY:

  • With a view to render assistance to the economically downtrodden people and suffering life threatening illnessess T.N.S.I.A.S. has been formed under the Chairmanship of Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department.

  • Director of Medical Services is the Member Secretary. 
  • Under the Scheme, Government General Hospital Chennai, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli and Kikpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai etc., have been notified as surgery performing institutions for the provisions of TNSIAS. 
  • The funds for scheme are provided by a State and Centre on a 1:2 basis.  So far, 15 crores had been released under the scheme.