Introduction
- Launched on 1 June 2011 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM)
- Entitlement-based scheme providing completely free and cashless services to all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions and to sick newborns up to 30 days of life
- Objective:
- Eliminate out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on maternal and newborn care,
- promote institutional deliveries and
- reduce maternal and neonatal mortality
- Synergistic with Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for cash incentive + JSSK for free services
Objectives
- Ensure 100% institutional deliveries with zero OOPE
- Provide comprehensive free care to sick newborns (0–30 days)
- Strengthen continuum of care from community to facility and back
- Reduce three-delays model barriers (especially delay in reaching & receiving care)
- Contribute to SDG targets of MMR <70 and NMR <12 by 2030
Target Beneficiaries
- All pregnant women delivering in public health facilities (PHC/CHC/DH/Medical College) irrespective of BPL/APL status
- Sick newborns (0–30 days) born in public facilities or referred from community (HBNC/ASHA)
- Includes C-section, complications of pregnancy, and any illness in newborn
Package of Services (4 Free Entitlements)
For Pregnant Women & Postpartum Mothers
- Free normal delivery including C-section and management of complications
- Free drugs, consumables, diagnostics (blood, urine, USG, etc.)
- Free diet (3 meals + snacks for 3 days normal / 7 days C-section)
- Free blood transfusion if required
- Free transport (pick-up from home to facility + drop-back home + referral transport)
For Sick Newborns (0–30 days)
- Free treatment of any illness (sepsis, jaundice, respiratory distress, asphyxia, LBW, etc.)
- Free drugs, diagnostics, blood products, phototherapy, CPAP (as per FBNC levels)
- Free diet for accompanying mother
- Free transport (to facility, inter-facility referral, drop-back)
Implementation Mechanism
- Operational at all public health facilities (from Sub-Centre delivery points to Medical Colleges)
- 108/102/ambulance services strengthened for free transport
- No user charges; displayed prominently in all facilities
- Convergence with:
- Facility-Based Newborn Care (FBNC): NBCC–NBSU–SNCU linkage
- RBSK: Birth defect screening at delivery points
- SAANS: Pneumonia management
- ABDM: Digital entitlement tracking via ABHA
- MusQan: Quality certification of maternal-newborn services
Monitoring & Reporting
- Real-time tracking through HMIS and ABDM portal
- Monthly reporting of beneficiaries, transport calls and OOPE saved
- District-level review by District Health Society
- Independent evaluation through NFHS and SRS data
Impact & Recent Developments (2026)
-
2.5 crore beneficiaries availed free services annually
- Significant reduction in OOPE on institutional delivery (from >₹3000 to zero)
- Neonatal mortality decline accelerated by timely transport and free care
- 2025–26 updates: Full ABDM integration for digital entitlement card; expanded transport fleet; linkage with U-WIN for post-discharge immunization
- Continued focus on high-burden districts and tribal areas