Source: National Health Portal
JSSK was launched by Government of India in the year 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.
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.
Key features
- It entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including caesarean section
- The initiative entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including caesarean section. The entitlements includes free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free blood wherever required, and free diet for 3 days during normal delivery and 7 days for C-section.
- This initiative also provides for free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home.
- In 2014 these entitlements extended to all antenatal &post-natal complications of pregnancy
- Similar entitlements have been put in place for all sick newborns and infants (up to one year of age) accessing public health institutions for treatment.
- 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.
