By Saturday, the government has sealed as many as 18 nursing homes and 34 ultrasound clinics in Nayagarh and other parts of the State. Most of these facilities were running without licence.

The government on Saturday said that the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act that prohibits sex determination test and foeticide be implemented strictly in the State.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Duryodhan Majhi sought the cooperation of the doctors to ensure proper implementation of the PNDT Act with a view to prevent female foeticide.

Majhi has decided to hold a meeting with the representatives of various medical associations to discuss the issue next week.

In an official statement, the Minister said the health department was continuing raids of nursing homes and ultrasound clinics as well as medical shops in different parts of the State.

"Stringent action will be taken against those found involved in female foeticide and fake drug business," Majhi said.

He informed that the Crime Branch had started investigation into the Nayagarh foeticide case and the fake drug racket case in Bolangir. If such cases came to light during the raids in other districts, the Crime Branch will take over those cases, he added.

While the authorities have arrested seven persons including a doctor in Nayagarh, two doctors have been transferred from the Nayagarh District headquarters hospital.

As regards fake drugs, more than 500 medicine samples have been collected from different parts of the State. The samples have been sent to Kolkata for test.