Now, APL families also entitled for Janani benefits

The scheme, launched this year to bring down the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate among the below poverty line (BPL) families, has been extended to women and children belonging to families of all income groups.

The scheme provides free and cashless services to pregnant women, including normal deliveries and caesarean operations, and sick newborns for up to 30 days after birth in government health institutions in both rural and urban areas.

Speaking at the media workshop here on Thursday, Health Secretary Dr E V Ramana Reddy said all the 17 hospitals under the Health and Family Welfare Department, 11 hospitals under Medical Education Department and BBMP hospitals would be included under the scheme.

The Government Order to this effect has already been issued to Jayanagar General Hospital, Ghousia and KC General Hospitals, he added.

Inspections

Elaborating on the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) schemes, S Selvakumar, director, NRHM stressed the need to incorporate PC and PNDT (Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act in a stringent manner.  “From now on, there will be three inspections conducted in a month at various diagnostic and sonography centres to ensure that sex determination tests are not conducted,” he said.

A district appropriate authority comprising deputy commissioner, tahsildars of the district, will be authorised to conduct inspections, he added. Although the sex ratio of   943:1000 in the State is comparatively better than the national ratio of 927:1000, the Health department is aiming to bridge the gap.

Selvakumar said the discussion is on to bring in legislation to make it mandatory for doctors to work in villages.