The Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC) on Monday warned scan centres in the State of stringent action if they failed to renew their licences on time.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, K. Senthil, Member, TNMC said that scan centres attached to hospitals and those functioning independently must necessarily possess licence issued by the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services.
Nevertheless, the council had received complaints relating to certain scan centres functioning without licences and others continuing to function even after the expiry of the licence period.
“Doctors and owners of scan centres must ensure that they possessed valid licences. The council has the power to suspend the registration of doctors and consequently prevent them from practising for a period of two years. If the offence is repeated, the doctor’s name would be removed permanently from the medical registry,” he said.
Compulsory registration of scan centres was aimed at curbing illegal sex determination and to keep track of those involved in unlawful activities, the members said.
According to the health officials, there are a total of 4,970 scan centres in the State and around 280 – both private and government-run – in Madurai district.
When contacted Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Madurai District, Dr. P. Anandan said, “Inspections are being carried out regularly to check for violations. At a meeting held a few months back, the centres were apprised of new rules and regulations laid down by the government,” he added.
