Free healthcare for pregnant women, infants

In a bid to improve the maternal and infant mortality in the country, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to provide free nutritious food, treatment, and transportation to all pregnant women who go to government facilities for delivery. Free healthcare services will also be provided to the newborns, as and when required.
To be launched on June 1 from Mewat, Haryana, the scheme will be applicable for all women from the sub-centre to the district hospital levels which are covered under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). Expenses for diagnostics, any surgical interventions, and nutritious food will be provided up to seven days, if need be.
The Centre would undertake the costs involved in transporting pregnant women to and from medical centres, including dropping her back home, said Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Pay for transportation
The Centre will pay for the transportation for bringing pregnant women to the nearest health care facility, take her to a specialised hospital in case of emergency, and also drop her back to her house, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here on Wednesday.
As of now, transportation facility is provided only for taking pregnant women to the health care facility during emergency or for delivery. States have been asked to ensure provision of free services to pregnant women as well as to sick infants in government health institutions. This would include, Mr. Azad said, the provision of free drugs, free consumables and diagnostics, free diet during stay and free transport.
There would be a toll-free number for every State which could be called for transport.
The money for the scheme would be provided through the NRHM and its implementation would also be monitored through the NRHM mechanism.