PNDT proposed amendments

New Delhi, August 03, 2018 :

Proposed amendments in PNDT Act

No. F.12011/25/2015-PNDT / Government of India

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (PNDT Section) / Dated the 31st July, 2018

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is proposing to bring some amendments in the provisions of the Preconception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection)(Six Months Training) Rules 2014. A copy of proposed amendments is enclosed herewith.

The view/ suggestion from the stakeholder and general public is solicited and the same may be sent through email on sopndtmohfw@nic.in on or before 14th August 2018.

Proposed Amendments to the Six Months Training Rules, 2014

Rule No.

Existing

Proposed change

Rule 3

Nomenclature of the Six months training in ultrasonography.-The six months training imparted under these rules shall be known as “the Fundamentals in Abdomino-Pelvic Ultra sonography: Level one for M.B.B.S. Doctors”.

Scope and Nomenclature of the six months training in ultrasonography.

Six months training in ultrasonographv will qualify and prepare the MBBS doctor to conduct prenatal diagnostics only. The six months training imparted under these rules shall be known as “The Fundamentals in Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasonography: Level one for M.B.B.S. Doctors”.

Rule 6

Eligibility for training.-

(I) Any registered medical practitioner shall be eligible for undertaking the said six months training.

(2) The existing registered medical practitioners, who are conducting who are conducting ultrasound procedures in a Genetic Clinic or Ultrasound Clinic or Imaging Centre on the basis of one year experience or six month training are exempted from undertaking the said training provided they are able to qualify the competency based assessment specified in Schedule II and in case of failure to clear the said competency based exam they shall be required to undertake the complete six months as provided under these rules, for the purpose of renewal of registrations.

Eligibility for training- ( l) Any registered medical practitioner shall be eligible for undertaking the said six

months training.

(2) The existing registered medical practitioners, who are conducting ultrasound procedures in a Genetic

Clinic or Ultrasound Clinic or Imaging Centre on the basis of one year experience six month training are exempted from

undertaking the said training provided they are able to qualify competency based assessment as per the syllabus specified in Schedule II except the log book and in case of failure to clear the said competency based exam, after two attempts, they shall be required to undertake the complete six months training, as training, provided under these rules, for the purpose of renewal of registrations.

Rule 7

Accreditation of institutions for six months training and its recognition.- ( 1) The following teaching institutions would be accredited as training centres to impart the six months training, namely:-

(a) Centers of excellence

established under the Acts of Parliament

(b) Medical Council of India

recognised institutions offering Post Graduate programmes in Obstetrics or Gynaecology and Radiology

Accreditation of institutions for six months training and its recognition.( 1) The following teaching institutions would be accredited as training centres to impart the Six Months Training, namely:-

(a) No change

(b)Medical Council of India recognized institutions offering Post Graduate programmes in Obstetrics and Gynaecology or Radiology;

Rule 8

Selection of students.- (l) The selection and intake of registered medical practitioners for admission to such trainings shall be on the basis of the following criteria:

a) Intake for admission to such trainings shall be 1:1 teacher to student ratio.

b) Selection shall be as per the merit list of the State post Graduate entrance exam.

c) 20% reservation for in-service candidates.

Selection of students.- ( I ) The selection and intake of registered medical practitioners for admission to such trainings shall be on the basis of the

following criteria:

d) Intake for admission to such trainings shall be up to 1:4 teacher to student ratio.

e) Selection shall be as per the merit list of the State Post Graduate Entrance Exam or any other appropriate merit recognised by the state.

(f) preference upto 50% shall be given to the in service candidates

g) Seats as mutually decided by the States/UTs shall be provided to the candidates from other States/UTs where there are no accredited institutes for imparting six months training in ultrasonography.

Rule 9

Changed criteria to be made prospective,- These rules shall come into force with immediate effect in case of new registrations. However, all registered medical practitioners employed in a Genetic Clinic or Ultrasound Clinic or Imaging Centre on the basis of one year experience or six months training and failed to

qualify the competency based exam as specified in Schedule II shall have to apply and clear six months training on or before 1st January, 2017.

Changed criteria to be made prospective.- These rules shall come into force with immediate effect in case of new registrations. However, all

registered medical practitioners employed in a Genetic Clinic or Ultrasound Clinic or imaging Centre on the basis of one year experience or six months training and failed to qualify the competency based exam in two attempts as per the syllabus specified in Schedule II- except the log book- shall have to apply and clear six months training on or before 31st December 2019.

Rule 14

Validity of the training certificates.-

Certification of training obtained from any State shall be applicable for the purposes of registration under Act in all States.

Validity of the training Certificate for qualifying Six Months Trainings in Ultrasonography and the Competency based exams shall be issued jointly by Director Medical Education and State Appropriate Authority.

Certification of training obtained from any State shall be applicable for the purposes of registration under Act in all States/UTs.

Stiff arteries linked to dementia

Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk for dementia onset in older elderly persons. Results from the longitudinal Pittsburgh Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition (CHS-CS) show that among adults in their 70s at baseline, higher large-artery stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), independently predicted higher dementia risk over 15 years. The findings were presented here at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018.

Beware of online games

In 2016, two games which were quite popular caused many road accidents. The details are:

Pokemon Go: 15 million players trying to catch ’em all. But Pokemon Go also had its fair share of issues – including causing more than 110,000 incidents in a 10-day period have been caused by drivers and pedestrians distracted by the game.
Blue Whale Game in which various tasks / challenges are assigned to the player to reach to higher level and ultimately the player commits suicide in the last challenge. However, the said game has been banned now.
The latest now is Kiki challenge, a potentially dangerous social media dance challenge which requires the performer to step out of the moving car, shake and shimmy beside a moving car and then jump back into it.

UP police: “Dear Parents, whether Kiki loves your child or not, we are sure you do! So please stand by your kids in all the challenges in life except #kikichallenge.

Chandigarh Traffic Police has also issued a traffic advisory on the dare.

Mumbai police tweeted: “Desist from public nuisance or face the music!”

In Punjab, local versions of the challenge have been uploaded on sites like Instagram with hashtags, such as #punjabikiki, #shiggychallenge, #bhangra, #bds, #desikiki #kikidoyouloveme #dotheshiggy and #drake. In some videos, youngsters can be seen shaking a leg to Punjabi versions.

Delhi High Court: Don’t insist on documents like Aadhaar to give benefits of maternity schemes

On 25.07.2018, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court said there was no legal basis for the govt. to insist on documents like Aadhaar & bank passbooks, to provide maternity scheme benefits to pregnant & lactating women in the city. A bench of Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal & Hon’ble Mr. Justice C Hari Shankar said “No such requirement (for Aadhaar) is set out in the scheme (JSY),” the bench said & added “there’s no legal basis for respondent (Delhi govt) to insist on the documents mentioned above for availing benefits of JSY”. The High Court said a lot needs to be done, including giving wide publicity to the schemes, to ensure women entitled to benefits under the JSY can avail the same. (Source: Latestlaws.com)

Sauna is good for the health

Sauna improves health, according to the authors of a new, comprehensive literature review. Among the benefits they identified were a reduced risk for cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and pulmonary illnesses such as asthma and influenza; amelioration of pain conditions such as rheumatic diseases and headache; decreased risk for mortality; and an improved quality of life. Overall, “[T]he physiological responses produced by an ordinary sauna bath correspond to those produced by moderate- or high-intensity physical activity such as walking,” Jari A. Laukkanen, MD, PhD at University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, all in Finland, and colleagues write in an article published online July 31 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Reduce heart inflammation without a statin