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Udupi: Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T.K. has instructed officials to grant permission only to scanning centres that strictly follow government rules and regulations.

She spoke while chairing the PCPNDT district-level competent authority committee meeting and the district-level private medical institutions registration and grievance redressal authority meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday.

The Deputy Commissioner directed officials to ensure that permission is given to ultrasound scanning centres only if they fully comply with the conditions laid down under the Act.

She said details of radiologist doctors working at scanning centres and government approval certificates must be displayed compulsorily. She also instructed that all required registers should be properly maintained according to rules.

Swaroopa said permission from the district-level competent authority must be obtained before changing scanning machines or replacing radiologist doctors at any centre. She warned that action should be taken against centres failing to follow the rules.

She stated that identifying the sex of a foetus and female foeticide are punishable offences and instructed the district-level committee to remain alert on the issue. Strict action would be taken against those violating the law, she said.

The Deputy Commissioner also said that patients visiting scanning centres for check-ups should not be made to wait for long hours and doctors should ensure that examinations are conducted within a reasonable time.

She said the district recorded 983 girl children for every 1,000 boys during 2025-26 and stressed the need to organise awareness programmes on the social problems caused by a low female child ratio.

Officials informed the meeting that the inspection committee visited 120 private health institutions in Udupi, 94 in Kundapur and 120 in Karkala between September 2025 and April 2026. Notices were issued to 102, 48 and 65 institutions respectively for not having fire safety equipment and for violating certain KPME rules.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Basavaraj Hubballi, District Family Welfare Officer Dr Sriram Rao K., Urban Development Cell Project Director Subrahmanya, Commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi and others were present at the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner directed members of the PCPNDT district inspection and monitoring committee to visit all registered scanning centres and hospitals in the district within three months and take suitable action against institutions violating rules.