A newborn baby in a safety net, symbolizing healthcare in India.

JSSK: Is India's Newborn Healthcare Safety Net Strong Enough?

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"A critical look at the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and its limitations in addressing congenital disorders."

Every year, over a million newborns die in their first year, with the majority of these deaths occurring in the first few weeks of life. Congenital disorders, or birth defects, affect approximately 3% of newborns and are a leading cause of infant mortality. These conditions can result in long-term disabilities and significant healthcare costs.

In 2011, the Indian government launched the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) to reduce maternal and infant mortality. The JSSK scheme provides free healthcare services to pregnant women and sick newborns in public health institutions. These services include free treatment, medication, diagnostics, blood transfusions, and transportation.

While the JSSK scheme is a significant step towards improving newborn health, questions remain about its ability to adequately address the needs of infants with congenital disorders. This article will examine the limitations of the JSSK scheme in providing comprehensive care for newborns with birth defects and advocate for an expansion of its scope.

The Promise of JSSK: Free Healthcare for Newborns

A newborn baby in a safety net, symbolizing healthcare in India.

The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) aims to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women and sick newborns. Under this scheme, newborns are entitled to free treatment at public health institutions, including free drugs, consumables, diagnostics, blood, diet, and exemption from user charges up to 30 days after birth. The initiative also provides free transport from home to the health institution, between institutions in case of referral, and drop-back home after delivery.

However, the JSSK scheme's focus on the first 30 days of life raises concerns about its adequacy for newborns with congenital disorders. Many congenital conditions require multiple surgical corrections, frequent follow-up appointments, and investigations beyond this initial period.

Surgical Needs: Conditions like omphalocele, esophageal atresia, and exstrophy of the bladder often necessitate staged surgeries occurring after the first month of life.
Complex Conditions: Cardiovascular, urological, and central nervous system anomalies may require primary surgeries beyond the 30-day JSSK window.
Ongoing Care: Congenital disorders often demand long-term management, including specialized care and therapies not fully covered by the current JSSK framework.

Extending the JSSK scheme to cover newborns with congenital disorders beyond the first 30 days of life would align with the scheme's objectives and provide much-needed support to families facing the challenges of raising a child with a birth defect. This extension would ensure that the scheme truly lives up to its name and provides comprehensive care for all newborns, regardless of their health condition.

Strengthening JSSK for Comprehensive Newborn Care

The JSSK scheme has undoubtedly made a significant impact on reducing out-of-pocket expenses for families seeking newborn care. However, to ensure universal access to quality healthcare, the scheme needs to be strengthened and expanded to cover the long-term needs of newborns with congenital disorders. By extending the JSSK scheme's benefits beyond the first 30 days of life, India can provide comprehensive care for all newborns and give them the best possible start in life.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2167-1079.1000193, Alternate LINK

Title: Janani ?Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (Jssk): Is This Scheme Enough For A Sick Newborn With Congenital Disorders

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Primary Health Care: Open Access

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Meely Panda Shasanka Shekhar

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) scheme and what are its primary objectives?

The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) is a government initiative launched in 2011 to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in India. It aims to provide free healthcare services to pregnant women and sick newborns at public health institutions. These services include free treatment, medication, diagnostics, blood transfusions, and transportation to and from healthcare facilities. The goal of the JSSK scheme is to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for families seeking essential healthcare for mothers and their newborns.

What specific healthcare services are provided to newborns under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), and what are its limitations regarding congenital disorders?

The Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) primarily focuses on providing free healthcare services to newborns within the first 30 days of life. This includes free treatment, medication, diagnostics, blood, diet, and exemption from user charges at public health institutions. It also covers free transport from home to the health institution, between institutions in case of referral, and drop-back home after delivery. However, there are certain congenital disorders like cardiovascular, urological, and central nervous system anomalies that may require primary surgeries beyond the 30-day JSSK window, which is a limiting factor.

Why is the existing Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) framework considered insufficient for addressing the healthcare needs of newborns with congenital disorders?

The current Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) framework may not be sufficient for newborns with congenital disorders because many of these conditions require multiple surgical corrections, frequent follow-up appointments, and specialized investigations beyond the initial 30-day period covered by the scheme. Conditions like omphalocele, esophageal atresia, and exstrophy of the bladder often necessitate staged surgeries that occur after the first month of life. Additionally, long-term management and specialized therapies for congenital disorders may not be fully covered.

What are the potential benefits of extending the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) coverage beyond the initial 30 days for newborns diagnosed with congenital disorders?

Extending the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) to cover newborns with congenital disorders beyond the first 30 days of life has significant implications. It would ensure that these newborns receive comprehensive care, including necessary surgeries, follow-up appointments, and specialized therapies, without burdening families with significant out-of-pocket expenses. Such an extension would align with the JSSK scheme's objectives of reducing infant mortality and providing universal access to quality healthcare, giving all newborns the best possible start in life, regardless of their health condition.

What specific measures can be taken to enhance the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) to ensure comprehensive and inclusive newborn care, particularly for those with congenital disorders?

To strengthen the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) for comprehensive newborn care, the scheme should be expanded to cover the long-term needs of newborns with congenital disorders. This involves extending the benefits beyond the first 30 days of life and including coverage for multiple surgical corrections, frequent follow-up appointments, specialized investigations, and long-term management. Such an expansion would ensure that all newborns receive the necessary care and support, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced financial burden on families.