Part 11: Maternity, Child Health & Women’s Healthcare

Odisha has some of the best maternal and child health programs in India. If you or someone in your family is pregnant or has a sick child, here is how to access completely free care.

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1. Free Delivery (Childbirth) — JSSK

The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) guarantees free delivery for all pregnant women at government health facilities.

What is free under JSSK?

• Normal delivery — Free.
• C-section (Caesarean) — Free.
• All medicines during pregnancy and delivery — Free.
• All diagnostic tests (ultrasound, blood tests) — Free.
• Blood transfusion if needed — Free.
• Free food for the mother during hospital stay (up to 3 days for normal delivery, 7 days for C-section).
• Free transport (102 ambulance to and from the hospital) — Free.
• Free treatment for the newborn (up to 30 days after birth) — Free.

Where to go?

• Capital Hospital — Has a dedicated maternity ward.
• Hi-Tech Medical College — Good obstetrics department.
• AIIMS Bhubaneswar — For high-risk pregnancies.
• Any UCHC/UPHC — For routine antenatal check-ups.

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2. Cash Incentive for Delivery — JSY

Under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), pregnant women from BPL families receive a cash incentive for delivering at a government hospital:

• Rural areas: ₹1,400 per delivery.
• Urban areas (Bhubaneswar): ₹1,000 per delivery.

3. Child Health — RBSK

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) provides free health screening and treatment for children from birth to 18 years.

What does RBSK cover?

• Health screening at schools and Anganwadi centres.
• 30 identified health conditions are treated completely free, including:
  • Congenital heart defects (surgery at AIIMS/empanelled hospitals)
  • Cleft lip/palate repair
  • Club foot correction
  • Hearing impairment (free hearing aids)
  • Vision problems (free spectacles)
  • Childhood cancers (referral to AIIMS/cancer centres)
  • Developmental delays

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4. Immunization — Free for All Children

All government hospitals, UCHCs, and UPHCs provide free immunization for children under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP):

• BCG, OPV, Pentavalent, Rotavirus, MR, JE, DPT Booster, and more.
• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) — Now free.

5. Women-Specific BSKY Benefits

As covered in Part 4, women under BSKY get an additional ₹5 Lakh coverage (total ₹10 Lakh), making it one of the most women-friendly healthcare schemes in India.

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6. Anganwadi Services (Nutrition)

For pregnant women and children under 6:

• Supplementary nutrition (Take-Home Rations) from Anganwadi centres.
• Growth monitoring for children.
• Nutrition counselling for mothers.
• Find your nearest Anganwadi via the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) office.

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Next: Part 12 — Master FAQ, Helplines & Document Checklist