Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana is a government scheme that covers the expenses of pregnant women for normal deliveries and caesarean operations. This also includes the treatment of sick newborn infants.

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Pregnancy-related health complications are one of the primary reasons for deaths of young women between the age group of 15 to 19 years. These women require proper healthcare support. The JSSK programme provides a free maternity facility. It also monitors the number of maternal deaths and accordingly improves health management across all levels.

The full form of JSSK is Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram. The primary objectives of this government scheme are as follows -

1. It ensures that pregnant women can access cashless public healthcare facilities during their deliveries.
2. It covers the expenses of sick newborn infants.
3. This scheme provides adequate nutrition up to 3 days after normal delivery. At the same time, it provides a diet of up to 7 days. This ensures the best health of both newborn child and mother.
4. This promotes institutional deliveries over deliveries at home. This ensures that both mother and child receive the best health facilities and lead a healthy life later.
5. The scheme ensures that both mother and sick newborn infants reach healthcare institutions without any delays.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana aims to benefit approximately 12 million+ pregnant women. Further, it also provides treatment to a newborn. Note the following benefits of this scheme -

For Pregnant Women

1. This scheme provides a cashless facility for pregnant women for their normal and C-section deliveries.
2. It provides free consumables and drugs to pregnant women. This scheme offers free diagnostics as well.
3. It offers a free diet to maintain the optimum nutrition of the mother and both sick newborn children.
4. One of the benefits of the JSSK scheme is that it provides free transportation facilities from patients' homes to healthcare institutions.
5. It offers a free transportation facility between the healthcare institutions during referrals. This scheme provides a free drop facility to patients' homes after a 48 hours stay at the healthcare institution.

For Newborn Infants

Similar benefits apply to a sick newborn. These treatments are available till 30 days after birth. Newborn infants up to 1 year are also covered under this scheme.

No. State governments undertake periodic reviews and field visits at all levels to implement the scheme. Take a look at how governments at both state and district levels implement this scheme:

At State Level

• After the issuance of a government order on free facilities, the state nominates a State Nodal Officer.
• Develop a grievance redressal institution to ensure the effective functioning of this scheme.
• Take necessary steps to purchase drugs and operational diagnostic facilities at all public health institutions.
• Establish blood banks at the identified FRUs. At the same, it ensures the establishment of referral linkages with vehicles equipped with GPS. Centralised control rooms are also established.
• This scheme also provides necessary funds to districts and state levels for its effective implementation.

Similar steps are implemented at district levels where the District Nodal Officer is appointed for supervision. At both levels, review meetings are executed to monitor the progress of the scheme.

Many individuals cannot access proper maternal and child healthcare services. This significantly contributes to the maternal and infant mortality rate in India. Therefore, a government scheme like JSSK provides financial relief and other healthcare support to those who need adequate help.