Free Health Care Check-Ups For Pregnant Women Under A Government’s Scheme

On June 9’s “Mann Ki Baat” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official announcement was made regarding Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), also known as ‘I pledge for 9’. The scheme has been officially launched today. Under this scheme, PM Modi invited all the private medical sectors to provide free ante-natal services (ANC) on a voluntary basis to pregnant women on every 9th of the month. This programme is majorly launched for women living in rural areas or under the situation where they are unable to get a proper health care. PM Narendra Modi also addressed the doctors to contribute 12 days in a year to the pregnant women of the country.

In every 12 minutes, a pregnant woman dies in our country, which results in 45,000 deaths every year. Among these deaths, only one in five women goes under a pre-natal health checkup. The health ministry said, that they appeal to all the doctors to come together for a cause that changes the identity of the country, in terms of maternal healthcare. They have also strained on the fact of providing quality healthcare, in addition to quantity healthcare.

Till now, more than 15,000 volunteers have come forward for the said cause. Dr Harkrishan Pai said, that maternal and child deaths are very low in the private sector as compared to the public sector, which is the reason why they want to take private-sector force into the public sector.

Under the scheme:

1. Women would be tested for amnesia, blood pressure, high sugar level and other common problems, that a pregnant woman suffers from.

2. A free ultrasound would also be provided to keep a track of the child’s health.

3. It is applicable to women from third to the sixth month of pregnancy.

4. Free check-up camps would be organised on the 9th of every month.

5. These camps and tests would be organised in government and private hospitals as well as clinics.

6. Every woman would be marked differently for best healthcare facility by the best doctor in that area.

This scheme is definitely going to be helpful for many, mostly for women in semi-urban, poor, underserved and rural areas of the country.

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4 November 2016
Jyotsna Amla