Lok Sabha Question No. 774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 774 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH JULY 2024

## NEO-NATALINTENSIVE CARE UNIT

## 774: SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY

Will the MINISTER of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether initiatives such as special newborn care units, improved labour rooms and efficient deliveries have helped and saved many newborn babies at risk, are still unaccessible in rural areas;
- (b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure the access to these services for everyone;
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to incorporate on-site neonatal care or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in various hospitals having birthing facilities given that they can be critical in improving medical outcomes for newborns; and
- (d) the details of any upskilling or training projects undertaken by the Government in NICU treatment modalities?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (d): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) supports all States/UTs in implementation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under National Health Mission (NHM) based on the Annual Program Implementation Plan (APIP) submitted by States/ UTs.

Under National Health Mission, 1054 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)/ Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) at Medical College/ District and Sub-district hospitals and 2774 New-born Stabilization Units (NBSUs) at First Referral Units (FRUs)/ Community Health Centres (CHCs) are established to provide care to sick and small newborns. In addition to this, 22,147 Newborn Care Corners (NBCCs) have been established at delivery points all across the country to provide essential newborn care.

Under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), all sick infants up to one year of age are entitled for free drugs and consumables, free diagnostics, free blood wherever required and free transport.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched the LaQshya initiative, which targets the enhancement of quality care during the intrapartum and immediate postpartum periods in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres of the designated First Referral Units (FRUs) and high case load Community Health Centres (CHCs) across the country. The LaQshya initiative prioritizes the improvement of labour management processes according to established protocols, stabilization of complications, timely referrals, and the provision of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to provide quality care during childbirth.

For strengthening of quality newborn and maternal care practices, several capacity building programs such as Facility Based Newborn Care (FBNC), Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) Care, Navjat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK), Facility based Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (F-IMNCI) and Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), Skill Birth Attendant (SBA), Daksh, Dakshata, Basic Emergency Obstetric & Newborn Care (BEmONC), Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric And Newborn Care (CEmONC), and Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) have been implemented to enhance the skills of service providers in order to effectively manage the deliveries and newborns .

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