A nine-member committee headed by Dr Sanjay Oak to suggest measures to control unauthorised use of medical termination of pregnancies (MTP) in Maharashtra has recommended amendments to the MTP Act as part of the government's efforts to curb sex determination.

Health minister Suresh Shetty said the recommendations will be forwarded to the centre since it is in the process of amending the pre conception and prenatal diagnostic techniques act (PCPNDT).

He said the state level PCPNDT meeting will take the recommendations report for deliberations in its next meeting.

The committee has sought stringent punishment for violation of MTP Act. It also calls for online registration facility for certification and licensing of facilities. Access to safe abortion services without barriers of coercion for use of contraception is another suggestion.

The committee has said decentralisation of registration and monitoring of MTP services should be operationalised.

According to the committee, there should be a higher authority for monitoring district level committees appointed by the government which are responsible for approval or suspension of place of performing MTPs.

Registration of a MTP centre should be renewed every three years. Abortion services should be subject to quality monitoring evaluation every six months.

It says records pertaining to medical abortion should be maintained including women referred with complications after having taken the pills over the counter or prescribed by another medical practitioner.