As per the latest data available from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, around 18 lakh child-deaths occur every year, of this over 10 lakh occur within 28 days of the birth. Further around 68,000 mothers die on account of pregnancy–related complications.
To further increase the institutional deliveries to reduce these deaths (which are currently covered through Janani Suraksha Yojana under NRHM) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is working on plans so that women who deliver in a government institution do not have to pay for anything towards service fee, drugs, diet, consumables and other miscellaneous expenses. It is working with the states to put in place a system which provides for ‘free treatment and free referral transport’ for all sick newborns for the first 30 days of their life under the NRHM.
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