Scheme for new mothers extended to all categories: India

Bangalore:

There’s good news for pregnant women who cannot afford services at private hospitals and clinics: They can go to public health institutions for a no-expense delivery, including Caesarean section.

Concerned over the poor response to the Janani-Shishu-Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), a scheme sponsored by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, the Centre has introduced changes in guidelines to ensure better implementation.

A major change is that all women irrespective of financial status can avail of the benefits. “Earlier, the scheme was applicable only to women who were below poverty line, but now it’s been extended to all categories,” nodal officer S Sreenivas told TOI.

Official sources said the scheme had not been a great success so far in Karnataka due to various reasons but the major ones were lack of awareness and complex procedures to avail of benefits. “The government has simplified the cumbersome procedures and extended it among all categories of women,” a senior officer said.

Now, pregnant women needn’t pay for childbirth, medicines, food and a host of other things, with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) taking care of their expenses. The scheme was launched in June 2011.

Sreenivas said facilities have been offered to pregnant women at all major government hospitals in the state. He added that women enrolled under JSSK are being offered free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free blood when required, and free diet for duration of a woman’s stay in the facility.

He said similar entitlements are in place for all sick newborns in public health institutions for healthcare for 30 days after birth. They’re entitled to fee treatment besides free transport and between facilities in case of a referral. The initiative is estimated to benefit about 1 crore pregnant women and newborns every year.

JSSK’s Objectives

* Reduce rate of population

* Reduce infant mortality rate

* Improve coverage of institutional delivery

* Increased contraceptive use by eligible couples

* Better access of postnatal and newborn care

* Improved coverage for childhood immunization

They’re entitled to:

Free and cashless delivery, free C-section, free treatment of sick newborn up to 30 days, exemption from user charges, free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free diet during stay in health institutions (3 days for normal delivery and seven for caesarean section), free provision of blood, free transport from home to health institutions, free transport between facilities in case of referral as also drop back from institutions to home after 48-hour stay.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / by Manu Aiyappa , TNN / May 30th, 2012

 

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