Sterilisation: Indian Medical Association for ban on medical camps

Chennai: Following the Chhattisgarh sterilisation tragedy, Indian Medical Association has called for a tentative ban on all such camps, until a panel is formed and a set of guidelines framed.

The IMA in Tamil Nadu says it follows a set of guidelines and no surgeries have been performed in camps in the state since 2000.

State IMA president Dr M. Balasubramanian, says, “IMA was conducting surgeries under family planning and blindness control programmes of the Central government in camps in  the  1970s  and 1980s,  before HIV infection arrived. After the spread of HIV in 2000, IMA stopped surgeries in camps.”

“Screenings were conducted in camps and the patients directed to hospitals and health centres for surgeries.” Tamil Nadu performs  surgeries only  in  upgraded primary  health  centres, taluk hospitals, district headquarter hospitals and in approved private hospitals, under the CM’s comprehensive health insurance scheme, he says.

Free screening camps for diabetes, cervical cancer and blood donation are  being conducted. According  to the IMA national  secretary  Dr  Narendra  Saini  the association plans to  form committee to prepare a set of guidelines to conduct a camp.  It will also protect doctors and the public, say  members of the IMA.