Free treatment for moms in government hospitals

BANGALORE: Here is some good news for all expecting mothers who can now celebrate their pregnancy without even worrying about the cost of delivery. Not just this even the sick newborn who is up to 30 days after birth, can seek completely free treatment in any government health institutions.The new Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) aims to offer completely free and cashless services, including normal or caesarian delivery in all the government hospitals. The scheme also envisages free treatment for a sick new born (up to 30 days after birth) in any government health institution in rural or urban areas.“These entitlements, earlier confined to only those below poverty line (BPL), will now be extended to all irrespective of their social strata. In addition, presently, the pregnant women or their families have to shell out from her pocket for user charges, and some of the diagnostic tests even in the case of institutional deliveries.However, in this new national scheme, they can enjoy more benefits and entitlement at no cost,” Selva Kumar, mission director, NRHM.The union health ministry has already sent government order to the state health and family welfare department for the scheme’s effective implementing and publish the JSSK entitlements, display them prominently in all government facilities and put entitlements in public domain.“Free of cost deliveries were provided in the government hospitals and sick new born were given free treatment earlier barring a few districts hospitals.But now with this new scheme, these will also be providing completely and cashless services to pregnant and newborn sick,” he added.The department which is now gearing up for its effective implementation is soon to issue circulars to all the government hospitals under the department, medical college hospitals, taluk, district, community and primary health centers and BBMP hospitals.“Within two days time, we are issuing circulars to all the hospitals coming under health department however, those under medical education and BBMP, it would be issued after the convening meeting with the authorities,” he said.