DK Health Department orders scan centres to report pregnant minors to police

DK Health Department orders scan centres to report pregnant minors to police

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 8, 2026: The Dakshina Kannada District Health and Family Welfare Department has directed all scanning centres in the district to verify the age records of pregnant women undergoing scans and immediately inform the police if any pregnant girl below 18 years of age is identified.

The directive was issued during a meeting of the District Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Amrutha Bhandary at the District Health Officer’s office.

The meeting was informed that between April and June 2026, a total of 2,911 male and 2,872 female babies were born in the district, resulting in a sex ratio of 987 females per 1,000 males.

Applications from institutions that had newly purchased scanning equipment were also reviewed during the meeting. The committee discussed deficiencies noticed during inspections of hospitals and scanning centres.

It was also decided that all veterinary hospitals and clinics operating in Dakshina Kannada must display boards stating, "Scanning for animals only," and submit a notarised affidavit declaring that scanning services are not provided to humans.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, inspections were carried out at 681 private and 39 government scanning centres across the district.

District Appropriate Authority and Implementation Officer Dr. Deepa Prabhu informed the meeting that Taluk Health Officers had inspected 75 private and nine government scanning centres.

District Advisory Committee (PCPNDT) members Anith Raj, Dr. Sundari, Dr. Nanjesh Kumar, Dr. Raghuraj, Dr. Bharathi Prakash, Dr. Chidananda Murthy, B.A. Khader Shah, Vasanth Peraje and others were present at the meeting.