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Free Surgeries Save Lives: RBSK Transforms Child Health
12 Oct
Summary
- Routine screenings identify child health issues early.
- RBSK scheme provides critical surgeries free of charge.
- Over 94.9 lakh children screened in a six-month period.
Maharashtra's Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is making significant strides in child healthcare, ensuring early detection and treatment for various health conditions.
The initiative focuses on identifying and managing birth defects, childhood diseases, deficiencies, and developmental delays in children up to 18 years old.
During the period of April to September 2026, RBSK screened 94.9 lakh children, facilitating over 8,000 essential surgeries. A notable success story involved Kunal, a five-year-old with a congenital heart defect whose family, unable to afford private treatment, received life-saving surgery free through the RBSK scheme.
Anganwadi screenings achieved high coverage, with Hingoli district reaching 97%. School-based screenings also saw substantial participation, though Mumbai reported lower turnout. The program deployed 1,196 mobile health teams across the state.
Treatment delivery has been robust, with 810 heart surgeries and 7,252 non-cardiac surgeries completed between April and August 2026. The newly launched RBSK 2.0 portal aims to further enhance program monitoring and referrals.
