Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakra
Introduction
Government of India has launched the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) on 1st June, 2011. The scheme is to benefit pregnant women who access Government health facilities for their delivery. Moreover it will motivate those who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries. All the States and UTs have initiated implementation of the scheme.
Situation
High out of pocket expenses being incurred by pregnant women and their families in the case of institutional deliveries in form of drugs, User charges, diagnostic tests, diet, for C –sections.
The New Initiative
In view of the difficulty being faced by the pregnant women and parents of sick new- born along-with high out of pocket expenses incurred by them on delivery and treatment of sick- new-born, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has taken a major initiative to evolve a consensus on the part of all States to provide completely free and cashless services to pregnant women including normal deliveries and caesarean operations and sick new born (up to 30 days after birth) in Government health institutions in both rural and urban areas.
The following are the Free Entitlements for pregnant women:
- Free and cashless delivery
- Free C-Section
- Free drugs and consumables
- Free diagnostics
- Free diet during stay in the health institutions
- Free provision of blood
- Exemption from user charges
- Free transport from home to health institutions
- Free transport between facilities in case of referral
- Free drop back from Institutions to home after 48hrs stay
The following are the Free Entitlements for Sick infants till 1 year after birth.This has now been expanded to cover sick infants:
- Free treatment
- Free drugs and consumables
- Free diagnostics
- Free provision of blood
- Exemption from user charges
- Free Transport from Home to Health Institutions
- Free Transport between facilities in case of referral
- Free drop Back from Institutions to home
Key features of the scheme
- The initiative entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including caesarean section.
- The entitlements include free drugs and consumables, free diet up to 3 days during normal delivery and up to 7 days for C-section, free diagnostics, and free blood wherever required. This initiative also provides for free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in place for all sick newborns accessing public health institutions for treatment till 30 days after birth.This has now been expanded to cover sick infants:
- The scheme aims to eliminate out of pocket expenses incurred by the pregnant women and sick new borne while accessing services at Government health facilities.
- The scheme is estimated to benefit more than 12 million pregnant women who access Government health facilities for their delivery. Moreover it will motivate those who still choose to deliver at their homes to opt for institutional deliveries.
- All the States and UTs have initiated implementation of the scheme