Patna, Jan 30 (IANS): At least two dozen diagnostic centres were sealed in Bihar's Purnia district after they were found to be flouting prescribed norms, officials said Thursday.

A total of 24 diagnostic centres were sealed after an inspection of around 40 such centres, said Purnia civil surgeon S.N. Jha, adding: "The administration will take similar action against fake doctors and pathologists."

Jha told IANS over telephone that the administration is committed to rooting out fake medical practices in the district.

He said that most of the diagnostic centres were flouting the guidelines prescribed in the Pre-concept and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act and they have no records of patients.

Last year 31 diagnostic centres were sealed, said an official.

In 2011, over a dozen fake doctors were arrested and their pathological test laboratories and physiotherapy centres were sealed after they were found to be running on the basis of fake certificates and documents during a series of raids.

Health officials here said that ultrasound centres involved in sex determination tests are running across the state.

In the last one year, the government has sealed 150 of the 1,427 such registered ultrasound centres in the state.