BHUBANESWAR: Aiming to lower the maternal and infant mortality rate in the State, the Government launched Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) here on Tuesday. Launching the scheme, Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said the number of institutional deliveries, a key determinant of maternal mortality, has increased considerably in the State in the last 10 years. The decline of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in the State by 30 points in the last 10 years is the highest in the country. The Centre-sponsored scheme has been launched in view of the difficulties being faced by pregnant women and the parents of sick newborns and the high ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses incurred by them on delivery and treatment, the Minister said. The JSSK will provide free services to pregnant women, including normal deliveries and Caesarean operations and treatment of sick newborns or neo-natal care up to 30 days after birth in government hospitals, CHCs and PHCs. Other benefits include free drugs and consumables, diagnostics, special diet during stay in the health institution, free provision of blood, exemption from user charges of all kinds, transport to and back from health facility after 48 hours and transport between facilities in case of referral. The facility will be available to all women in the designated 382 government health institutions in rural areas. Medical colleges will not be included in the scheme for the time being. Plans are in the pipeline to provide kidney transplantation facility in SCB Medical, Cuttack, at much cheaper prices, said Prasanna AcharyaA website and toll-free grievance redressal number (18003456770/155335) on the scheme were also launched. Among others, Women and Child Development Minister Anjali Behera, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Anu Garg, NRHM Director Pramod Meherda spoke.
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