Citizens Provided Free Medical Facilities under NHM

Public Health being a State subject, it is for the State Governments to decide the persons eligible to avail free medical service provided by public health facilities and also to decide about providing free medical facility to their citizens. However, under the National Health Mission (NHM), Central Government supplements the efforts of the States/UTs to provide affordable, accessible and quality health care to people largely through strengthened public health system. Further, with the support under NHM, the following services are expected to be provided free of cost to all citizens who access these services in public health facilities: i. Maternal and Reproductive Health services, ii. The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) that provides immunization against 7 vaccine preventable diseases and free TT vaccination, iii. Pulse Polio Immunization [PPI], iv. Family Planning supplies and services, v. Child Health services that include both Home Based and facility based New born Care, vi. Communicable diseases services: · Investigation and treatment for Malaria, Kala azar, Filaria, Dengue, JE and Chikungunya, · Detection and treatment for Tuberculosis including MDR-TB, · Detection and treatment for Leprosy, · Detection, treatment and counseling for HIV/AIDs. (vii) Non Communicable diseases services: · Cataract surgery for Blindness control- over 6 million free cataract surgeries done every year, · Cornea transplant, · Glaucoma/ Diabetic Retinopathy, · Spectacles to poor children. Besides the above, under the national initiative of “Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram” (JSSK), every pregnant woman is entitled to free delivery, including caesarean section, in public health institutions. The entitlements includes free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free diet, free blood wherever required, free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements are in place for sick infants up to one year of age and cases of ante-natal and post natal complications as well. Under the national initiative of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), support is being provided to States/UTs for Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services through early detection and early management of common health conditions classified into 4 Ds i.e. Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, Development delays including disability. Treatment including surgeries at tertiary level is free of cost under this initiative. Under the National Ambulance Services (NAS), support under NHM is provided to States for patient transport particularly the pregnant women (for delivery), sick infants and patients needing trauma care. NHM is also providing funding to States/UTs to provide free essential drugs and free essential diagnostics in public health facilities under the NHM - Free Drugs Service and NHM - Free Diagnostic Service Initiatives respectively. The Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today. Courtesy : pib.nic.in