Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

About RBSK

• Launched in 2013 under the National Health Mission (NHM), RBSK is focused on preventing disease and disability in children.
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• An estimated 25 crore children below the age of 18 will be screened for the two infectious diseases, and if a person is suspected to have either of the two, s/he will be sent to a higher centre for confirmation.
• The existing Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) infrastructure will be used for the screening.

What is Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)?

• RBSK is focused on preventing disease and disability in children. 
• This initiative is aimed at screening children from 0 to 18 years for 4Ds – Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development Delays including Disabilities. 
• Children diagnosed with illnesses shall receive follow up including surgeries at tertiary level, free of cost under NHM.

Objective :

• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is an innovative and ambitious initiative, which envisages Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services, a systemic approach of early identification and link to care, support and treatment.

Key features of the scheme:

• The RBSK programme corresponds to the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Adolescent Health strategy (RMNCH+A), Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, and Child Survival and Development – A Call to Action summit held in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu in 2013. 
• The scheme aims at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 D’s viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays including disability.  
• The 0 – 6 years age group specifically managed at District Early Intervention Center ( DEIC ) level while for the 6 -18 years age group, managed at existing public health facilities. 
• The services aim to cover children of 0 -6  years of  age in rural  areas and urban  slums  in addition  to  children  enrolled in  classes I to XII in  Government and Government  aided Schools. It is expected that these services will reach about 27 crores children in a phased manner.