In a development that promises mothers and their newborns a healthy future, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has approved implementation of Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), a Union ministry of health and family welfare (Mohfw) initiative, to provide free treatment for pregnant women. The scheme ensures complete free maternal and neonatal services including Caesarean section deliveries together with all possible out-of-pocket medical expenditures that childbirth demands. The decision was taken in Thursday’s standing committee meeting of the civic body.
“The initiative aims at providing free services to pregnant women for 42 days from day of childbirth,” said Dr Suhas Kulkarni, medical officer with AMC’s health department. The services which cover normal as well as Caesarean deliveries, when implemented, will be available at municipal and government hospitals in rural and urban areas. “Costs of medicines for the newborn too will be borne by the hospital,” said Kulkarni.
Standing committee on Thursday also approved allocation of funds for JSSK. The scheme entails participation of Centre as well as AMC for expenditures towards free treatment of the mother and her newborn.
The initiative aims to improve institutional deliveries, so as to bring down maternal mortality rate. A report prepared by maternal health division of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India states that about 67,000 women in India die every year due to pregnancy-related complications. Out of the nine lakh newborns each year, 75% die within first week of birth. The report further states that 25% of pregnant women hesitate to access institutional facilities for childbirth, courtesy social taboos. And even if they do, they are not willing to stay in hospital for 48 hours after delivery, which hampers essential care for the baby.
JSSK aims to address all these issues and eradicate them. Not only delivery and treatment, but all services for pregnant women reaching a hospital will be free. These include medicines, diagnostic services, food, blood and transportation for mothers and their newborn for up to 30 days.
To suffice these costs, AMC will receive grants from under different heads. The civic body will receive Rs300 for each normal delivery and Rs1,500 for a caesarean birth.
