Women's Healthcare and Policy Options

Women's Healthcare and Policy Options

                   Women's Healthcare and Policy Options

The synergy between central and state policies: The committee said that synergy between the center and the states will lead to a change in women's health services. The committee said, for example, taking pregnant women to the nearest delivery center remains a difficult task due to (i) inaccessible geographical conditions, (ii) lack of means of transport, (iii) natural disasters, (iv) Security related threat, curfew, strike, etc. In this regard, the committee suggested that the central government should discuss making 'pre-delivery hubs' with the states. In addition, the committee said that such hubs would cost the poor and marginalized families less out of pocket (out-of-pocket expenses) and also reduce maternal mortality.

Functions of the National Health Insurance Scheme: National Health Insurance Scheme (RSBY) is an insurance scheme under which families belonging to below poverty line and unorganized workers are covered. The objective of this scheme is that those people on health have to spend less out of their pocket and increase their access to health services. The committee referred to the following issues related to the implementation of RSBY: (i) Exploitation of poor beneficiaries by empaneled private hospitals under RSBY (performing surgeries that can be avoided, misdiagnosis, etc.) (ii) RSBY Under-enrollment of a small number of families, indicating that there is a lack of awareness among the target population, and (iii) hospitals Mr. different feedbacks different with regard to quality and accessibility. The committee suggested that all districts in the country should have a system to monitor the implementation of the scheme. Apart from this, the committee also suggested that RSBY data should be made available free on public platforms.

Accredited Social Health Activists (Accredited Social Health Activists) (ASHA) Demand: ASHA workers help track the health of pregnant women, help them achieve benefits (eg Janani Suraksha Yojana) and health Helps to implement programs at the ground level. The committee said that the ASHA workers of the country do not have a fixed salary and that they are demanding a fixed salary with their remuneration in many states. In this regard, the committee suggested a proposal for a fixed monthly salary not less than Rs 3,000. In addition, the committee raised other issues related to the training of ASHA workers such as lack of skilled trainers, infrastructure and equipment.

Need for food fortification: The committee said that cases of anemia are much higher in women in rural areas than in urban areas. This is despite the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Public Distribution System. In this regard, the committee noted that the priority of the government has only been to increase the availability of food, not to ensure its nutritional through initiatives such as food fortification. The committee suggested that the addition of iron to grains should be preferred because (i) it does not change the quality and nature of the food, (ii) iron can be easily added to grains, and (iii) much shorter duration than this People can get nutrition in

Unsafe abortion: The committee said that unsafe abortion is the biggest cause of abortion deaths in the country (eight percent of the total cases of maternal deaths each year). It has been noted that it may have the following reasons: (i) lack of awareness about abortion, and (ii) women should seek legal support for abortion if the pregnancy is more than 20 weeks old, although judicial process The slow pregnancy crosses the legitimate threshold and women are unable to get abortions, thus women in both rural and urban areas have quacks (Unqualified Doctors Issues) have to go to. The committee suggested an amendment in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. The committee said that by amending this act, the sanctioned period of abortion can be extended to 24 weeks, but this prohibition will not apply to unborn children with serious problems. In addition, the committee has suggested removing the provision that only married women can undergo abortions. Thus, anyone should be allowed to have an abortion.

Women's mental health: The committee said that due to social stigma and ignorance, mental illnesses suffered by women are not recognized. In this regard, the committee has suggested to spread awareness and to take measures that can free mental health problems from stigma.