T Shiva Raj
Campbell Bay, 04 July 2025
Despite recent upgrades at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar, residents continue to face serious challenges in accessing essential diagnostic services due to the absence of a qualified medical professional authorised to perform ultrasound sonography.
The installation of a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine at PHC Campbell Bay had initially brought a wave of optimism among the residents. However, their relief was short-lived as they soon discovered that the machine remains largely unused. The reason: there is no trained and authorised doctor stationed at the PHC who meets the legal and professional requirements to conduct ultrasound examinations.
Sources informed Nicobar Times that the Directorate of Health Services had scheduled monthly visits of a qualified and authorised doctor from Car Nicobar to Campbell Bay. However, these visits have not been taking place consistently, and in some cases, have been skipped for several consecutive months.
Ultrasound sonography (USG) is a critical diagnostic tool, particularly during pregnancy. It is a safe, non-invasive, and reliable method for monitoring the health and development of both the mother and the fetus. Due to the lack of an authorised doctor at Campbell Bay, even expectant mothers are compelled to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram for routine USG scans — a journey that is both logistically challenging and financially burdensome.
The costs involved in such travel are significant. A one-way helicopter fare from Campbell Bay to Sri Vijaya Puram costs ₹5,350 for islanders, while a 1st Class ship ticket is priced at ₹2,740. Additionally, patients bear the expenses of food, accommodation, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs — all for a service that could easily be provided locally if a trained doctor were available.
The core issue lies in the requirements set forth under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, which was enacted to prevent sex-selective practices and to regulate prenatal diagnostic procedures. According to the Act and its associated rules, only certain categories of medical professionals — such as gynaecologists, sonologists, imaging specialists, or registered medical practitioners with a postgraduate degree, diploma, or six-month prescribed training in — are permitted to conduct USG.
Although PHC Campbell Bay is staffed with qualified MBBS doctors, none currently possess the postgraduate specialisation or the mandated six-month training under the PCPNDT (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (Six Months Training) Rules, 2014. As a result, none of them are legally eligible to perform ultrasound procedures.
A pragmatic and sustainable solution would be to facilitate the six-month PCPNDT-prescribed training for at least one doctor stationed at PHC Campbell Bay. This would empower the local health infrastructure to deliver critical diagnostic services and significantly ease the burden on the local population.
Residents are calling upon the Health Department to take urgent action by investing in the upskilling of medical personnel posted in remote regions. Ensuring that at least one doctor in each such facility is trained and registered under the PCPNDT Act will not only improve healthcare access but also strengthen public trust in the system.
Until then, the ultrasound machine at Campbell Bay remains an unused asset — a symbol of hope deferred for the island’s residents.
