Delhi-govt to adopt Mamta friendly hospital scheme

New Delhi, July 23 (UNI) The Delhi Government will adopt the 'Mamta friendly Hospital' Scheme to bring down maternal and infant mortality rate in the national capital, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced today.

''The Government is committed to providing equitable, quality healthcare for citizens especially, the maternal and child segment of its population,'' Ms Dikshit told reporters after a Cabinet meeting took the decision.

''An important component of healthcare, aimed at reducing the maternal and infant mortality, is the provision of institutional delivery for pregnant women and putting an end to the practice of female foeticide,'' she added.

The Chief Minister said her Government had decided to adopt the Mamta friendly Hospital scheme in convergence with social welfare scheme for the girl child.

''The Mamta friendly hospitals would be treated at par with the government institutions for the limited purpose of providing the benefit of the girl child protection scheme of the Department of Social Welfare to the girl child born to the BPL/SC/ST mother,'' she added.

The hospitals that take up partnership under the scheme would be paid Rs 4,000 for each delivery.

Ms Dikshit said the adoption of Mamta friendly Hospital scheme would provide an opportunity to pregnant women of the weaker sections to avail benefits of nursing homes also.

UNI