Unregistered ultrasound machine found at suspended doctor’s hospital in Hyderabad

An unregistered ultrasound machine has been found at a hospital run by a suspended doctor in Hyderabad, according to a Times of India report published on August 11, 2026. The discovery raises fresh concerns about the enforcement of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, which makes it mandatory for every ultrasound facility in the country to be registered with the appropriate state authority.

What the report says

The Times of India report, filed by senior Hyderabad correspondent Ajay Tomar, states that an unregistered ultrasound machine was discovered on the premises of the suspended doctor’s hospital. The doctor’s name, the exact location of the hospital and the specific area of the city have not been disclosed in the available portions of the report.

What is confirmed is that the doctor was already under suspension when the machine was found. That detail is significant: a medical professional under suspension continuing to run diagnostic equipment suggests the gap in oversight is not limited to a single machine.

Why an unregistered ultrasound machine is a serious matter

Under the PCPNDT Act, no ultrasound machine can be used or sold in India unless the facility operating it has been registered with the state or district appropriate authority. Registration is not a paperwork formality. It allows authorities to track machines, monitor how they are used and ensure that no prenatal sex determination is being performed, which is illegal under the same Act.

An unregistered machine sits entirely outside this monitoring framework. There is no official record of its use, the person operating it or the number of scans performed. In practical terms, it can be used without leaving a regulatory trail.

The patient risk is different but equally real. Ultrasound scans are medical procedures that depend on calibrated equipment and qualified operators. A machine that has evaded registration may also have evaded other checks related to maintenance and operator certification. A scan performed on such equipment can produce unreliable results, with direct consequences for pregnancy care and diagnosis.

What the PCPNDT Act requires

The Act, which came into force in 1994 and was amended in 2003, applies to all ultrasound clinics, imaging centres and hospitals that conduct sonography. Key obligations under the law include:

• Registration of the facility with the appropriate authority before any machine is put to use
• Maintenance of records of every scan performed, including the patient’s consent
• Display of the registration certificate at the premises
• Submission to periodic inspections by the state’s appropriate authority

In Telangana, inspections are carried out by the health department and district medical and health officers. When an unregistered machine is found, the usual course of action includes seizure of the equipment and legal proceedings against the facility operator. Penalties under the Act range from imprisonment to fines, with higher punishment for repeat offences.

What patients and residents can check

Patients visiting any hospital, nursing home or diagnostic centre in Hyderabad have the right to ask whether the facility is registered under the PCPNDT Act. The registration certificate must be displayed at the premises, and the registration number should correspond to the specific machine being used for the scan.

Residents who suspect that a clinic or hospital is operating an unregistered ultrasound machine can file a complaint with the district medical and health officer or with the Telangana State Appropriate Authority. The rules framed under the Act require authorities to keep the identity of complainants confidential, which makes it possible for patients and staff to report concerns without exposing themselves.

What remains unclear

Several details of this case are still unknown. The name of the doctor, the location of the hospital and the enforcement action taken after the discovery have not been confirmed in the available information. It is also not clear whether the machine was sealed or seized, whether a criminal case was registered, or how the doctor’s suspension is connected to the inspection.

Readers should treat the case details as preliminary. The core fact, that an unregistered ultrasound machine was found at a suspended doctor’s hospital, is as reported by the Times of India, but the surrounding specifics require confirmation from official orders or follow-up reporting.

Aspect | Detail
What was found | An unregistered ultrasound machine at a suspended doctor’s hospital in Hyderabad
Reported by | Times of India, August 11, 2026; filed by Ajay Tomar
Governing law | PCPNDT Act, 1994 (amended 2003)
Why it matters | Unregistered machines operate outside regulatory oversight and can be misused
What to do | Complain to the district medical and health officer or the Telangana State Appropriate Authority

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/unregistered-ultrasound-machine-found-at-suspended-doctors-hospital/articleshow/133163738.cms

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