A month after the civic body made submission of details about patients taking sonography procedures compulsory, the number of cases reported by city doctors has increased by around four times.

According to the civic family welfare department, till November, doctors reported 3000 to 5000 cases of sonography procedures on an average every month. However, in December, 19,628 cases were reported.

“By tracking trends emerging from the data, we could follow potential cases of sex selection,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer for the department.

Doctors now have to submit details about patients seeking sonography procedures online as compared to submitting hard copies earlier. “Most doctors used to give us an incomplete form. In case of online submission, the form cannot be submitted unless all the 19 blanks on it are filled,” said Dr Advani.

Of the 1000 sonography centres in the city, 534 have registered themselves online. “We have given the remaining centers three months’ time to register,” said Dr Advani.