Date:29/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/29/stories/2008032953730400.htm

New Delhi

Govt. trying to universalise institutional deliveries: Sheila

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Launching a new “Mamta” scheme to bring down maternal and infant mortality, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her government was committed to providing quality health care for the citizens, especially mothers and children.

Ms. Dikshit said an important component of health care aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality was the provision of institutional delivery for pregnant women: “In Delhi about 3.2 lakh deliveries take place every year and 63 per cent of these are institutional deliveries.”

Stating that the Government was trying to universalise institutional deliveries, the Chief Minister said: “There are, however, constraints like lack of adequate government health facilities equipped and functional to provide the comprehensive obstetric services for the mother and the newborn.”

Ms. Dikshit said Rs. 4,000 would be provided to private hospital providing comprehensive care to pregnant women that included antenatal care, institutional delivery, newborn care and post-natal care under the Mamta scheme. “There are part packages also for only institutional delivery whereby nursing homes will be given Rs. 3,000 only and if only ante-natal care is given then Rs. 2,000 will be given to the nursing home.” She said 26 nursing homes and private hospitals had already entered into a memorandum of understanding with Integrated District Health Societies.