Summary:
PUNE: After testing the waters in the rural areas, the state government has rolled its scheme to offer free sonography test to every pregnant woman in the urban areas by roping in private radiologists and sonologists.“We initially implemented the scheme in the state’s rural parts. So, all pregnant women need access to quality antenatal services to detect and prevent life-threatening complications during childbirth,” radiologist Jignesh Thakkar, the past president of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association, said.“The scheme faced some problems in the state’s rural parts initially. Two sonologists have already started providing the services . However, it is doing well now,” he added. Now, we have directed civic health officials in Maharashtra to involve private sonologists to provide free sonography test to every pregnant woman within their jurisdictions,” a senior state health official of the State Family Welfare Bureau said.Under the scheme, private radiologists and sonologists willing to offer sonography test at Rs 400 will have to register themselves or make a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the municipal corporation health officials.Anjali Sabne, assistant medical officer of health, Pune Municipal Corporation , said, “We have received the state’s directive, dated July 2, to involve private sonologists for providing free sonography test to every pregnant woman in Pune city..