Mumbai: Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), an initiative of the National Health Mission, the Government of Maharashtra has set up dedicated screening teams at the taluka level across the state. Each team comprises two medical officers, a pharmacist, and a nurse, responsible for conducting health check-ups for children aged 0 to 18 years by visiting anganwadis and schools within their designated areas.
The programme is designed to detect health conditions in children, including congenital defects, nutritional deficiencies, developmental delays (physical and mental), and common diseases – collectively known as the '4 Ds'. The aim is to identify these conditions early and provide timely intervention.
Children covered under the programme include those aged 0 to 6 years at anganwadi centres, home-delivered infants tracked by ASHA workers, and students aged 6 to 18 years in government, aided, private schools, junior colleges, and ashram schools.
Based on findings during screenings, children requiring further care are referred to higher-level facilities for treatment or surgery. Notably, all treatment and surgical procedures, including any of the 104 surgeries identified by the Central Government, are provided free of charge under this scheme.
To ensure efficient implementation and real-time data management, the Public Health Department has developed a dedicated online Health App. The programme mandates that the entire screening process be executed through this app, with regular updates made to create individual digital health cards for each student. After every medical check-up, student health data must be uploaded to the system, ensuring that all students are comprehensively documented and included.
These medical services will be offered through a state-supported assurance model, without the involvement of insurance companies, and delivered by recognised hospitals in coordination with the State Health Assurance Society.
With this structured, technology-driven approach, the RBSK programme continues to serve as a cornerstone in advancing equitable and quality healthcare access for children across Maharashtra.
