New Delhi, May 3: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released new guidelines for its child health programme, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0, to improve healthcare services for children across the country. The updated programme was unveiled at a national summit on public healthcare and aims to strengthen early detection and treatment of health problems among children from birth to 18 years.
RBSK 2.0 builds on the existing “4Ds” approach: Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Developmental delays, but now also includes new concerns such as mental health issues, behavioural problems and non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Under the programme, children will continue to be screened through mobile health teams visiting Anganwadi centres and schools. The government has expanded the scope to cover more health conditions and ensure early identification.
The new guidelines also focus on better follow-up care. Children diagnosed with any condition will be referred to health facilities, and a tracking system will help ensure they receive proper treatment without delays.A major addition is the use of digital tools. The programme will introduce digital health cards and real-time data systems to track children’s health and improve service delivery.
The government said the updated framework also encourages coordination between the health, education, and women and child development departments to provide more comprehensive care. Officials believe RBSK 2.0 will help improve overall child health, reduce disease burden and ensure better growth and development for children nationwide.
