Question : SPECIAL CARE UNITS FOR INFANTS

(a) whether special care units for the infants have been set up in the district hospitals of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the number of new-born infants whose lives have been saved during the last three years;

(d) whether any complaint regarding shortcomings in the functioning of these special care units have been received and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to remove these shortcomings?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ABU HASEM KHAN CHOUDHURY)

(a) & (b) Yes, Under NRHM Special New Born Care Units (SNCUs) have been setup at district hospitals and medical colleges. Presently 399 SNCUs are functional in the country. The state wise SNCUs details is annexed.

(c) The reporting from the SNCUs started in the year 2011. The number of newborns admitted and died during the year 2011 and 2012 are as below.

S.No	Case admitted	Deaths

2011	3,08,999	34,641

2012	1,37,740	16,335
(till June, 2012

(d) There were no complaints received in the ministry from states. However during various field visits conducted by the central teams, the short comings that have been noticed are as under:

# Availability of trained manpower is the biggest challenge for the states in running these special care newborn units.

# Procurement of equipments and maintenance is also an issue in certain states.

# Failure to adhere to standard treatment and infection control protocols.

# Absence of mentoring and monitoring activity at the state level

# Minimal referral linkages established at various level of care.

(e) The following steps have been taken to improve the quality of care in SNCU.

(1) Operational guidelines for SNCU have been developed and disseminated to all States/UTs.

(2) Capacity building of heath care providers is carried out.

(3) Monthly review of data received from SNCU is carried out.

(4) Regular monitoring and field visits are carried out by central team.

(5) Funds are provided to states/UTs for strengthening infrastructure and hiring of manpower.

(6) JSSK scheme is being implemented to provide free diagnostic transport to all newborns.

Question : SPECIAL CARE UNITS FOR INFANTS

Answer given by the minister

Search

More from HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

Other Ministries: