The Government of India inaugurated the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) on June 1, 2011. The scheme aims to support pregnant women receiving care at Government health facilities during delivery. Additionally, it seeks to encourage pregnant women who traditionally opt for home births to choose institutional deliveries. Implementation of the scheme has commenced in all States and Union Territories (UTs).
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.
Situation
Pregnant women and their families are facing significant out-of-pocket expenses associated with institutional deliveries, including costs for medication, user charges, diagnostic tests, and dietary needs, particularly in cases requiring C-sections.
New Initiative
Recognizing the challenges confronted by pregnant women and parents of ill newborns, coupled with the substantial out-of-pocket costs associated with delivery and the treatment of sick newborns, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has undertaken a significant initiative. The aim is to foster unanimous agreement among all states to ensure the provision of entirely free and cashless services for pregnant women, encompassing both normal deliveries and caesarean operations, as well as for sick newborns up to 30 days after birth. This initiative extends to 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 newborns till 30 days 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.
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