Latest news with #MTP
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Govt launches ‘Saheli': ASHAs to help check illegal abortions in Haryana
Gurgaon: 'Saheli' is changing the lives of women like never before. Fifty thousand Sahelis — 20,000 ASHAs and 30,000 ANMs — are making daily calls and visits to pregnant women across the state for real-time monitoring and swift reporting of miscarriages. With a view to preventing unsafe and illegal abortions, a new initiative — Saheli programme — was launched by the health department on Wednesday, with ASHAs (accredited social health activists) directed to alert medical officers immediately on any miscarriage. Gurgaon has already implemented the new initiative. Seventeen villages that have less than 700 sex ratio at birth (SRB) for the last three consecutive years are being monitored more strictly. These villages are located in Bhora Kalan, Pataudi, Farukhnagar and Ghangola areas. Chief medical officer (Gurgaon) Dr Alka Singh said, "To tighten regulation, all registered medical practitioners (RMPs) must now source MTP kits exclusively from Life Line Medicare, Sushant Lok, while the supplier is mandated to submit monthly sales data for cross-verification." "Under the Saheli initiative, 3,120 ASHAs are now making daily calls to pregnant women for real-time monitoring and prompt miscarriage reporting in Gurgaon," the CMO said. Haryana's SRB fell from 916 in 2023 to 910 last year. Haryana has for decades struggled with a skewed sex ratio, often attributed to practices like female foeticide and a strong preference for a boy child. \ At 834, Haryana's SRB was the lowest among all Indian states when data was studied in the 2011 Census. The state improved its count to 923 by 2019 but started seeing a downward trend thereafter. Meanwhile, this constant care is not appreciated by all. "I understand they want to help, but it feels like I am under a microscope. Every day, a call, a visit — like I am being watched more than cared for. I am pregnant, not a suspect," Urmila Singla, a resident of Pataudi, said. Between Jan and May 2025, the district registered seven FIRs under the MTP Act and two under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, reflecting increased vigilance and enforcement. Senior medical officers (SMOs) have been tasked with conducting fortnightly meetings with frontline health workers and monitoring birth and death registrations. Any unusual trends must be reported with explanations. Interestingly, in Gurgaon, 712 MTPs were recorded among women with more than one girl child, but none were flagged as suspicious, prompting the department to initiate reverse tracking in suspected cases involving over-the-counter MTP kit misuse. "We have also started to reverse trace the cases. Sahelis are told to inform about any miscarriages to their respective medical officers," the CMO added. Additionally, 23 suspected illegal MTP cases are under investigation by BAMS doctors, while 50 BHMS and 328 BAMS practitioners have been registered to support the initiative. The Saheli initiative is being hailed as a model for community-based maternal health surveillance, combining technology, grassroots engagement and regulatory oversight to protect women's health and uphold the law.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Haryana: Intensify enforcement measures against illegal abortions, health officials told
The Haryana health department will intensify enforcement measures against illegal abortion practices and take strict action against doctors found guilty of such violations, including cancellation of their licences. Additional chief secretary (ACS), health, Sudhir Rajpal on Tuesday asked officials to focus on BAMS doctors and unqualified practitioners (quacks) involved in illegal abortions, particularly in Karnal, Palwal, Gurugram and Charkhi Dadri districts. The ACS directed officials to involve deputy commissioners and launch a crackdown on establishments involved in illegal medical termination of pregnancy in these districts. Officials were also directed to coordinate with police authorities and request the DGP to constitute a dedicated task force to combat illegal abortions. The ACS who on Tuesday chaired a weekly meeting of the State Task Force formed for improving sex ratio also ordered disciplinary action against the district monitoring and evaluation officer and deputy CMO of Faridabad for negligence in duty. The officials were also directed to create unique pregnancy IDs to track every pregnancy and ensure more accurate data of pregnant women. Registration of a doctor from Kurukshetra has also been recommended for cancellation by the Haryana Medical Council after he was allegedly found complicit in malpractices, said an official statement. An official spokesperson said that during the past week (May 27 to June 2), inspections were conducted across the state over the illegal sale of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits in which two MTP kits were seized and an FIR was registered. The number of wholesalers selling MTP kits has been reduced from 32 to five within a month in Haryana and the sale trend of MTP kits has seen a significant decline in 16 districts of the state, the spokesperson said. One firm has also been given notice under Drug and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, for violation of rules and legal proceedings shall be launched against it. 4 nursing homes sealed in Palwal Four nursing homes in Palwal where illegal abortions were being carried out by quacks were raided and sealed by a team of the health department. An FIR has been registered and the accused have been arrested, the spokesperson said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Court issues norms for pregnancy termination in sexual assault cases
New Delhi: Delhi High Court recently issued guidelines for handling sexual assault victims seeking medical termination of pregnancy (MTP), emphasising that identity documents should not be required during medical examinations when the victim is brought by the investigating officer (IO) after FIR registration. A single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed, "Where the survivor of sexual assault (major or minor) is accompanied by the IO or produced pursuant to the direction of a Court or Child Welfare Committee (CWC), identification proof shall not be insisted upon by the hospital or doctor for conducting ultrasound or necessary diagnostic procedures. Identification by the IO will suffice." The court clarified that the IO is responsible for identifying the victim and ensuring that relevant documents and case files accompany her before the medical board. These guidelines were issued on May 29, in response to a plea seeking permission for the MTP of a 17-year-old rape survivor taken to AIIMS for examination and termination on May 25. The hospital initially refused to conduct an ultrasound because she lacked an identity card, despite police accompaniment. After a 13-day delay, an ultrasound revealed she was over 25 weeks pregnant. The medical board did not examine her immediately, citing the need for a court order since the pregnancy exceeded the statutory limit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The bench directed govt hospitals to designate nodal officers to coordinate medico-legal aspects of such cases and provided clarity for handling MTP requests from minor sexual assault survivors. The court mandated that comprehensive medical examinations be conducted without delay for pregnant rape survivors. For pregnancies exceeding 24 weeks, a medical board must be constituted immediately without awaiting specific court orders. The bench further ruled that foetuses from MTP procedures on rape victims should be preserved for potential future DNA or forensic analysis. On May 27, on the orders of the court, a medical board examined her and found that she was only 24 weeks pregnant, and there was no need for a court order. The bench, observing that the conduct of AIIMS in this case was troubling, directed the registrar general of the HC to send a copy of the judgment to the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, Delhi police commissioner, Delhi govt, and the Central Govt to ensure that the guidelines are disseminated to and complied with by all stakeholders.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
JATSO seeking citizens' input about future transportation projects
JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin Area Transportation Study Organization (JATSO) is updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) with the launch of an online survey. As the transportation planning agency for the Joplin metropolitan area, JATSO's goal is to provide regional mobility. The MTP helps guide the agency with long-range planning on how to improve the transportation system. Every five years the MTP must be updated. Now, JATSO has released a survey to address safety perceptions, specific problem areas, and suggestions for improvement, the organization said. The public can access the transportation survey here. Public open houses will also be hosted in Joplin, Webb City, and Carl Junction, where community members can provide input for the regional transportation system. These open houses will include maps and graphics with detailed information about the project. Carl Junction Public Open HouseCarl Junction Senior CenterMonday, June 164:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Webb City Public Open HouseMining Days Community BuildingTuesday, June 17 4:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Joplin Public Open HouseCity Hall 5th Floor Council ChambersWednesday, June 184:30 p.m. — 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Don't insist on ID': Delhi HC issues further guidelines on medical termination of pregnancy in minor rape survivors
The Delhi High Court has issued guidelines again to various authorities for 'institutional clarity' in hospitals in cases of medical termination of pregnancy of minor victims of sexual assault, directing that identity documents shall not be insisted on during medical examination when brought by the investigating officer after the registration of an FIR. It has also directed to designate nodal officers in government hospitals to coordinate the medico-legal aspects of such cases. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued the slew of guidelines on Thursday while allowing a plea seeking permission for the medical termination of pregnancy of a minor survivor of sexual assault. The latest guidelines – especially for hospital administration – come after the court recorded that in the present case, 'the chain of events reveals a troubling picture of delay, miscommunication, and lack of clarity on the part of hospital authorities, all of which culminated in a significant lapse in providing timely medical care to a 17-year-old rape survivor.' Earlier, Justice Sharma had in April issued guidelines to child welfare committees (CWCs) and legal aid authorities. Issuing further directions to hospital administrations, the court said that in cases where gestational pregnancy is found to be exceeding 24 weeks, 'the Medical Board shall be constituted immediately, and without waiting for any specific direction from the Court, the Board shall conduct the necessary medical examination and prepare an appropriate report at the earliest and place before appropriate authorities.' It directed hospital administrations to 'make available the latest, updated Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and relevant legal guidelines in both Emergency and Gynaecology Departments, and to ensure that duty doctors are briefed and sensitised regularly regarding their obligations under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and High Courts.' The court also instructed to conduct quarterly training programmes for doctors, medical staff, and legal officers attached to all hospitals, in coordination with legal aid bodies such as the Delhi State Legal Services Authority and the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee (DHCLSC). Besides, a nodal officer must be designated in every government hospital to coordinate MTP and medico-legal processes for victims of sexual assault as a single point of contact for CWC, IOs and court. A standardised format for MTP request, consent, ultrasound requisition, and medical opinion must also be made available in all emergency and gynaecology units in both English and Hindi. Issuing directions to the Delhi Police, the court said, the force must ensure that investigating officers (IO) dealing with POCSO and sexual assault cases undergo mandatory training every six months, with a focus on MTP procedures, court orders, and coordination with medical and welfare authorities. Certificates of completion shall be maintained in the officers' service records. On April 17, Justice Sharma had issued guidelines, especially to CWCs and Delhi High Court Legal Services, to avoid delays in such cases, while dealing similarly with a plea seeking permission to medically terminate a pregnancy in a minor sexual assault survivor exceeding 27 weeks. The court at the time, had laid down that whenever a minor victim of sexual assault, who is found pregnant with a gestational period of pregnancy exceeding 24 weeks, is produced before the CWC and is referred to a hospital for medical examination or medical termination of pregnancy, the concerned CWC shall forthwith inform the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee (DHCLSC) regarding the case. Upon receipt of such information, DHCLSC shall immediately take appropriate steps to assess whether any legal intervention is required, including the need to approach the competent court seeking an order for medical termination of pregnancy which is beyond 24 weeks in case of a rape victim where she or her guardian seek medical termination of pregnancy, so as to avoid any further delay. Prior to the April 2025 guidelines, the high court had been issuing guidelines through various judgments. In January 2023, it issued guidelines for investigating officers, outlining that survivors of sexual assault shall be medically examined, be presented before a medical board as envisaged under the MTP Act in case consent is given for termination, and the examination report must be presented to the concerned authorities for moving court if necessary. It had also directed the constitution of medical boards at hospitals.
