The Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) is advocating for the development of ultrasound machines equipped with software that can track fetal development without revealing the fetus’s gender. This initiative aims to facilitate easier access to ultrasound scans, particularly in complex pregnancy cases, by circumventing restrictions imposed by the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
AHPI, representing approximately 15,000 hospitals across India, has engaged with leading ultrasound manufacturers to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their machines. This technology would enable scans that mask the gender of the fetus, complying with legal requirements while expanding access to crucial medical diagnostics.
Vivek Bhasin, Director General of AHPI, highlighted that the scarcity of radiologists in India necessitates innovations like AI-enabled ultrasound to mitigate maternal and infant mortalities. Currently, India has a severe shortage of radiologists, with only one professional per 100,000 people compared to the U.S.’s ratio of one per 10,000.
As reported by Medical Buyer, the PCPNDT Act, initially aimed at curbing female foeticide, regulates ultrasound clinics and mandates registration and stringent record-keeping for facilities using ultrasound machines. Despite these regulations, AHPI argues that the law’s strict enforcement limits rural and underserved populations’ access to vital medical technologies.