The Haryana Health Department is examining a proposal to bar doctors from being registered with more than two Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) facilities in the state, in an effort to improve oversight and curb proxy practices.
The move follows a departmental review on Tuesday (Nov18) , during which six districts were pulled up for performing worse than last year on the sex ratio at birth (SRB). Officials said many MTP centres list doctors who are rarely present, hampering audits, weakening accountability, and making it difficult to verify compliance with legal norms.
Authorities believe limiting registrations would help ensure that centres employ dedicated, qualified practitioners, discourage misuse of doctors’ credentials across multiple facilities, and strengthen transparency during inspections.
According to Media Reports, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sudhir Rajpal has directed district administrations and health teams to work collectively to raise the state’s SRB to 920 this year. Data from January 1 to November 17 shows a decline in SRB in Sirsa, Sonipat, Yamunanagar, Dadri, Jhajjar and Nuh districts already under tight surveillance for PNDT enforcement.
During a video conference with deputy commissioners and police officers from the six districts, Rajpal called for stronger coordination with civil surgeons, reverse tracking of illegal abortion cases, and continuous monitoring. He ordered the suspension of the medical officer at PHC Jattawali in Sirsa and the SMO at Halalpur in Sonipat for alleged negligence linked to declining SRB. Officials said accountability at the facility level is now “non-negotiable”.
Haryana’s SRB has slipped to its lowest since 2016, with the 2024 average at 910. The current SRB stands at 913, compared to 904 during the same period last year. Rajpal also instructed teams to ensure the registration of all newborns in urban slums and low-income areas, and to intensify efforts to improve the overall sex ratio.
The meeting further decided that call detail records of individuals involved in illegal MTP or sex determination practices will be submitted in court as evidence. An MIS portal will also be developed to track all PNDT-related legal proceedings.