Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) aims to improve children's quality of life by providing comprehensive healthcare to all children in the community.
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3 min
6th March 2024

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), an initiative under the National Health Mission of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is a comprehensive child health program. RBSK is dedicated to providing systematic Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services, ensuring timely identification of health issues and seamless connections to necessary care, support, and treatment pathways. The overarching vision of RBSK is to significantly improve the holistic well-being of children, empowering them to reach their complete developmental potential. Furthermore, the program is committed to delivering extensive healthcare services to all children within the community, leaving no child behind.

RBSK: An Overview

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), an initiative of the National Health Mission under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, focuses on delivering crucial Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services. Targeting children from birth to 18 years, especially those in rural regions, urban slums, and government/aided schools, RBSK ensures comprehensive healthcare. Its primary goal is the early detection and effective treatment of diverse health conditions in this age group, thereby significantly alleviating potential financial strain on families seeking necessary medical care for their children.

Key objectives of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram

  • To facilitate early detection and intervention for health conditions in children from birth to 18 years, covering defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays.
  • To ensure comprehensive healthcare services are accessible to all children, particularly those in underserved rural areas and urban slums, aligning with the broader goals of the rashtriya swasthya pradhikaran in improving health equity.
  • To establish a robust referral system, linking early detection with timely and appropriate treatment, care, and support at various healthcare facilities.
  • To enhance awareness and promote healthy behaviors among parents and communities regarding child health and well-being, contributing to the long-term health outcomes envisioned by the rashtriya swasthya pradhikaran.
  • To reduce the financial burden on families associated with the treatment of childhood illnesses through the provision of free screening, diagnosis, and management.

Features of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

Given below are the key features of the scheme:

  • Systematic health screenings: RBSK conducts regular health screenings to detect health issues early in children.
  • Timely interventions: The program ensures prompt interventions for health concerns identified during screenings.
  • Focus on 32 conditions: RBSK targets 32 prevalent health conditions for early detection and provides free treatment and management, including tertiary-level surgeries.
  • Age range: Screening covers children from birth to 18 years.
  • Focus areas (4 Ds): The screenings specifically look for Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Developmental delays.
  • Collaboration (0-6 years): Close collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for children aged 0-6 enrolled in Anganwadi centers.
  • Collaboration (6-18 years): Close collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resource Development for children aged 6-18 enrolled in government and government-aided schools.

Benefits of RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram)

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) can be beneficial in multiple ways:

  • Early detection: RBSK facilitates the early identification of health issues in children, including defects at birth, diseases, deficiencies, and developmental delays.
  • Free treatment: The program offers free treatment and management, including surgeries at tertiary level hospitals, for diagnosed health conditions.
  • Comprehensive care: RBSK ensures that children receive comprehensive care, including early intervention services and follow-up care at the district level.
  • Financial relief: Families benefit from reduced out-of-pocket expenditure on treatment, as the services provided under RBSK are free of cost.

Pro Tip

A comprehensive health plan not only covers hospitalization but also pre & post-treatment expenses, ensuring complete financial protection against rising medical costs.

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List of health conditions screened under RBSK

There are 30 health conditions which are examined across four different categories. These include:

Defects at birth

  • Neural tube defect

  • Down's syndrome

  • Cleft lip and palate / Cleft palate alone

  • Talipes (club foot)

  • Developmental dysplasia of the hip

  • Congenital cataract

  • Congenital deafness

  • Congenital heart diseases

  • Retinopathy of prematurity

Deficiencies

Diseases of childhood

  • Skin conditions (Scabies, fungal infection and Eczema)

  • Otitis media

  • Rheumatic heart disease

  • Reactive airway disease

  • Dental conditions

  • Convulsive disorders

Developmental delays and disabilities

  • Vision impairment

  • Hearing impairment

  • Neuro-motor Impairment

  • Motor delay

  • Cognitive delay

  • Language delay

  • Behavior disorder (Autism)

  • Learning disorder

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia, beta thalassemia (Optional)

 

Eligibility under RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram)

Given below is the target age and coverage of children under RBSK scheme:

Target group under child health screening and intervention

Category

Age group

Estimated children to be covered

Babies born at public health facilities and home

Birth to 6 weeks

2 crore

Pre-school children in rural and urban slums

6 weeks to 6 years

8 crore

School children enrolled in class 1st to 12th in government and government aided schools

6 years to 18 years

17 crore


Screening process for RBSK

Given below is the process through which the health screening of children will be managed:

Age group Management Screening
0-6 years Specifically managed at District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) level. DEIC serves as referral linkages for this age group. First level screening at delivery points by Medical Officers, Staff Nurses, and ANMs. Screening of new borns from 48 hours to 6 weeks by ASHA at home as part of Home Based New-born Care (HBNC) package. Outreach screening at anganwadi centers by dedicated Mobile Health teams.
6-18 years Management of conditions through existing public health facilities, with DEIC serving as referral linkages. Outreach screening at schools by dedicated Mobile Health teams.


What constitutes the Mobile Health team?

The mobile health team comprises four members, including two doctors (AYUSH), one male and one female, each holding at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Additionally, the team will include one ANM/Staff Nurse and one Pharmacist who possesses computer proficiency for efficient data management.

Significance of health insurance schemes in India

Health insurance schemes in India play a crucial role in ensuring financial protection and access to quality healthcare. They provide a safety net against exorbitant medical expenses, preventing individuals from facing financial crises during health emergencies. Whether private or government-owned, these schemes offer essential coverage for hospitalisation, treatments, and preventive care, empowering individuals to prioritise their well-being without worrying about affordability.

Buying a health insurance scheme, regardless of ownership, grants peace of mind, as it assures access to timely medical services. Additionally, it fosters a culture of preventive healthcare, promoting overall well-being and mitigating the burden on public healthcare infrastructure.

Some related government schemes

Central Govt Health Scheme

ABHA card

How to download Ayushman Card

Benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana

BIS PMJAY registration

PMJAY registration

Frequently asked questions

What is the RBSK scheme?

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a health program launched by the Government of India to provide comprehensive healthcare services for children aged between 0 and 18 years. The program aims to improve the overall health and well-being of children by ensuring early identification and treatment of health issues.

What are the benefits of RBSK?

The RBSK scheme provides a range of benefits to children, including early identification and treatment of health issues such as birth defects, developmental delays, and disabilities. The program also focuses on providing preventive healthcare services, such as immunisations, health education, and nutrition counseling, to children and their families.

Which diseases are covered under RBSK?

The RBSK scheme covers a range of diseases and health issues that affect children, including congenital heart disease, deafness, blindness, oral diseases, and mental health conditions. Additionally, the program also provides services for early identification and intervention for developmental delays, disabilities, and other health issues.

Who are the beneficiaries of RBSK?

The RBSK scheme is aimed at providing comprehensive healthcare services for all children aged between 0 and 18 years, particularly those from marginalised communities. The program aims to ensure that all children have access to quality healthcare and receive timely treatment for any health issues.

What are the 4 D diseases in RBSK?

The "4 Ds" in the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) refer to the four main categories of health conditions that the program focuses on screening and early intervention for: Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, and Developmental delays, including disabilities.

What are the duties of a RBSK nurse?

The duties of an RBSK nurse are multifaceted and crucial to the program's success. They are involved in conducting health screenings of children in schools and Anganwadi centers, identifying children with the 4 Ds, providing basic health education and counseling to children and parents, maintaining accurate records of screenings and referrals, facilitating referrals to higher-level healthcare facilities, and following up on the treatment and management of identified cases. They also play a vital role in community outreach and awareness activities.

Which ministry is RBSK under?

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is an initiative under the National Health Mission (NHM), which operates under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

How to download rashtriya swasthya pradhikaran card?

It's important to clarify that there isn't typically a specific "Rashtriya Swasthya Pradhikaran card" for individual beneficiaries to download. The Rashtriya Swasthya Pradhikaran (National Health Authority - NHA) is the apex body responsible for implementing India's flagship public health insurance scheme, 1 Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana 2 (AB-PMJAY). If you are looking to download your AB-PMJAY e-card, you can do so through the official PMJAY website or app using your Aadhaar number or beneficiary ID. The RBSK program focuses on screening and early intervention for children, and beneficiaries usually access services through schools, Anganwadi centers, and referred healthcare facilities rather than a specific card download.

What is Rashtriya Swasthya Pradhikaran hospital list?

The Rashtriya Swasthya Pradhikaran (National Health Authority - NHA) maintains a comprehensive list of empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). To find the list of hospitals empaneled under AB-PMJAY, which is the flagship scheme managed by the NHA, you can visit the official PMJAY website. You can search for hospitals based on location and specialty on the portal. While RBSK beneficiaries receive referrals to various healthcare facilities, the direct list of hospitals is usually associated with the AB-PMJAY network managed by the rashtriya swasthya pradhikaran.

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