Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday announced a new scheme for pregnant women in the country under which they will get expenses for treatment, transportation and food at least six months before delivery date.
"We have introduced a new scheme for more care and comfort to pregnant women in the country under which the government will take care of her treatment, diagnosis, transport and food at least six to seven months before the delivery and will also cover the new born against all diseases for one year," Azad said in Srinagar.
Under the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) introduced eight years ago, a pregnant woman used to get benefits at the time of delivery, but as per the upgraded scheme, married women will get benefits immediately after conceiving till the time of delivery, he said.
"She will get free treatment during the pregnancy period along with free of cost transport facility from home to hospital and back. The government will take care of her treatment, diagnosis, transport and food for at least six to seven months before the delivery at a government hospital," the Union minister said.
"The whole expenditure will be borne by the union health ministry," he said and expressed hope that the entire country will take benefit of the scheme.
