What is the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)?

RBSK is a government health programme under the National Health Mission that provides early screening and treatment for children from birth up to 18 years of age. It focuses on identifying birth defects, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays.

Who is eligible for RBSK services?

All children from birth to 18 years, including newborns in government hospitals, children in Anganwadi centres (ages 0–6), and students in government or aided schools (ages 6–18), are eligible to receive free health screening and treatment under RBSK.

What kind of health conditions are covered under the scheme?

RBSK covers 30 types of health issues under four categories: birth defects like cleft lip or clubfoot, nutritional deficiencies like anaemia, diseases like skin infections and ear problems, and developmental delays including hearing or vision issues.

How can a child be enrolled or screened under this scheme?

Parents don’t need to apply separately. Children are automatically screened at government hospitals, Anganwadi centres, and schools by mobile health teams. If any condition is detected, they are referred for further diagnosis and free treatment.

Is the treatment under RBSK completely free?

Yes, all services under RBSK—including screening, diagnosis, hospital treatment, surgery, and follow-ups—are completely free of cost at government facilities or empanelled private hospitals.

Who is eligible for RBSK services?

All children from birth to 18 years, including newborns in government hospitals, children in Anganwadi centres (ages 0–6), and students in government or aided schools (ages 6–18), are eligible to receive free health screening and treatment under RBSK.

What kind of health conditions are covered under the scheme?

RBSK covers 30 types of health issues under four categories: birth defects like cleft lip or clubfoot, nutritional deficiencies like anaemia, diseases like skin infections and ear problems, and developmental delays including hearing or vision issues.

How can a child be enrolled or screened under this scheme?

Parents don’t need to apply separately. Children are automatically screened at government hospitals, Anganwadi centres, and schools by mobile health teams. If any condition is detected, they are referred for further diagnosis and free treatment.

Is the treatment under RBSK completely free?

Yes, all services under RBSK—including screening, diagnosis, hospital treatment, surgery, and follow-ups—are completely free of cost at government facilities or empanelled private hospitals.

Who is eligible for RBSK services?

All children from birth to 18 years, including newborns in government hospitals, children in Anganwadi centres (ages 0–6), and students in government or aided schools (ages 6–18), are eligible to receive free health screening and treatment under RBSK.

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Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): About, Benefits, Application

Alankar Mishra

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Updated: 28-01-2025 at 7:27 AM

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): About, Benefits, Application

The RBSK, which stands for the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram is a part of India’s healthcare plan. Since its introduction, this government initiative has always focused on making sure health issues are found and fixed quickly in children from birth to age 18. There is a clear focus on encouraging inclusion and on lowering unfairness about getting good healthcare. This article will delve deep into the information, implementation, application, and all other details about the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram.

Overview

Feature	Details
Launch Year	2013
Target Age Group	Birth to 18 years
Key Focus Areas	Defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays
Screening Locations	Public health facilities, Anganwadi Centres, Government schools
Healthcare Team Composition	AYUSH Medical Officers, ANMs, staff nurses, and pharmacists
Intervention Facility	District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs)
Coverage	Approximately 27 crore children across rural, urban, and slum areas
Screening Tools	Questionnaires, clinical examinations, and job aids
Services Offered	Free screening, referral, treatment, and follow-up services

What Is Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)?

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) has been the landmark initiative introduced by the Government of India for providing early identification and management in children from the moment of birth till 18 years of age. The screening of children under this government programme includes four cornerstones namely: Congenital anomalies, Nutritional deficiency state, Chronic and acute illness, and Disability within the developmental delay category. This govt scheme of child health screening is designed to identify and treat emerging problems promptly for the benefit of the children of this nation.

The aim was to encourage early treatment by embracing two points, the community and facility-based so that children from both the rural areas and the urban slums can access the health services that they require. Most importantly, children of the age group zero to six years are screened in DEIC, while children of the age group of six to eighteen years are screened at the public utilities.

Target Age Group For Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram launch date in India marked almost all the milestones. The programme is intended to extend the age range of children, with particular emphasis on rural, urban slum and government-aided schools, to those below 18 years. The government scheme is planned to scale up in phases reaching out to about 27 crore children spread over the following segments:

Categories	Age Group	Estimated Coverage
Babies born at public health facilities and at home	Birth to 6 weeks	2 crores
Preschool children in rural areas and urban slums	6 weeks to 6 years	8 crores
Schoolchildren enrolled in classes I to XII in government and government-aided schools	6 years to 18 years	17 crores

Criteria Evaluated Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram pdf also informs that a total of 30 health problems are included for screening in this government programme, which also includes the conditions that states may append according to epidemiological circumstances. The four categories include:

1. Defects at Birth

Neural tube defects
Down's Syndrome
Cleft Lip & Palate
Talipes (club foot)
Congenital heart diseases
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Congenital deafness and cataracts

2. Deficiencies

Severe Anaemia
Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency (Rickets)
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
Goiter

3. Diseases of Childhood

Skin conditions (Scabies, fungal infections)
Rheumatic heart disease
Otitis media
Convulsive disorders
Dental conditions
Reactive airway diseases

4. Developmental Delays and Disabilities

Vision and hearing impairment
Neuro-motor impairment
Cognitive delays
Behavioural disorders like Autism and ADHD
Learning disorders

Diseases such as hypothyroidism, sickle cell anaemia and Beta-thalassemia may also be incorporated by the States and the Union Territories.

Screening Mechanism At Community & Facility Levels

The screening process under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram happens at community and facility levels. First, screening is done at the delivery points by the Medical Officer, Staff Nurses and ANMs. More scrutiny, especially among younger children, is done by Mobile Health Teams at Anganwadi Centres.

In the age group of 6-18 years, screening is done at schools. With this process, children are prevented from reaching the chronic stage by providing timely intervention and referring them to the nearest District Early Intervention Centre for free treatment and intervention.

Screening At Anganwadi Centres

Mobile Block Health Teams tri-annual visit Anganwadi Centres to identify and address health problems among children in the age of below six years. Developmental delay causes screening also involves the use of job aids, children who are suspected of having any condition emphasise the concern towards the delinquent child and are referred to the DEIC as well.

School-Based Screening

For school children aged between six years and eighteen years, the correct phrase is, that a health worker goes to schools once a year to screen children for deficiencies, diseases and developmental delays. Questionnaires and clinical examinations are generally employed for screening with the use of further treatment referral mechanisms to the DEIC where necessary.

Mobile Health Team Building

The mobile health team is a vital component of this government program. This team consists of four members. The scenario of which are mentioned below.

Two female and one male AYUSH Medical Officers
One ANM or Staff Nurse
One drug dispenser who is also proficient in computer applications for data management

This ensures effective screening, treatment and follow-up services.

Team Members	Number
Medical Officers (AYUSH - 1 male, 1 female)	2
ANM/Staff Nurse	1
Pharmacist with computer proficiency	1

How To Access RBSK Services

To avail of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, families and children have to go to the public health facilities or wait for the Mobile Health Teams which will come and carry out the screening at Anganwadi Centres or government schools.

If any such health condition is found, the child can be referred to the nearest District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) for treatment free of charge.

Conclusion

It is the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram RBSK which is a very important health programme for children in India. This government scheme seeks to prevent or remedy conditions that would otherwise impact a child’s health which by extension ensures that children in India grow to be healthy individuals and have a positive future.

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