What is RBSK & what treatments can you get at RBSK hospitals
From 2005 to 2012, there was a significant movement that reduced child mortality under the National Rural Health Mission program. Based on data from March 2006, out of every 100 babies, 6 to 7 children had congenital disabilities in the country. There was a dire need to improve early detection and management of conditions not included in the past mission to improve child health.
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) was an ambitious and innovative initialisation involving Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services. It was invented in 2013 by the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare under the National Health Mission. This initiative focuses on screening and managing health conditions of children from birth to 18 years of age.
RBSK was a systemic approach to the early identification of the medical condition for the mentioned age group with the goal of delivering care, support, and proper treatment. Now that you know the basics, let’s learn more about RBSK hospitals the conditions they screen and provide treatments for children.
The Targeted Beneficiaries of the RBSK Program
Various nutritional deficiencies and development delays affect preschooling children in India. The RBSK program aims to cover children 0-6 years of age in rural areas, and children from class 1 to 12 in government and government-aided schools. An estimated beneficiary of this service was about 27 crore in a phased manner. The children mentioned above have been categorised into three groups as per their age.
Babies born at home or any public health facilities (Age up to 6 weeks)
Preschool children in rural and urban slums both (Age from 6 weeks to 6 years)
Children enrolled in Government and Government-aided schools (Class from 1 to 12)
Health conditions to be screened for Child Health and Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention and Child Screening Services aim to cover 30 selected conditions for screening. When a child is screened and positively diagnosed for any of these selected conditions, it is ensured that the necessary treatment will be delivered free of cost to the family. Here is a list of all the selected conditions that are covered by the program.
Defects at Birth
Down Syndrome
Neural Tube defect
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Congenital heart diseases
Congenital cataract
Congenital deafness
Talipes (club foot)
Cleft Lip & Palate / Cleft palate alone
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Development Delays and Disabilities
Hearing Impairment
Language delay
Vision Impairment
Neuro-motor Impairment
Motor delay
Cognitive delay
Deficiencies
Severe anaemia
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency
Severe Acute Malnutrition
Goitre
Disease of Childhood
Skin conditions
Dental conditions
Otitis Media
Reactive airway disease
Rheumatic heart disease
RBSK Program in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has achieved a record of conducting free heart surgeries of more than 1000 children to date. For the RBSK program, the health department pays Rs 60,000 to 2 lakhs per surgery for those parents who could not bear expenses for their children. The health department conducts screening of children up to 19 years, and if they are diagnosed with diseases, the health department helps them get free treatment.
One of the shining beacons of the RBSK program in western Rajasthan has been Medipulse hospital which has completed the most number of congenital heart procedures under the program. If you are entitled to the scheme and your child is suffering from any of the 30 conditions covered under the program, you can surely visit Medipulse hospital for the best medical care and free of cost treatment. You can learn more about the scheme treatment processes by visiting the hospital or by going through the official hospital website.