Fourth child, no free treatment: Barpeta Road FRU announces new maternity policy

Pregnant women delivering their fourth child or more at Barpeta Road FRU Hospital will no longer be eligible for free government healthcare services from July 1 onward.

The announcement was made by Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Ranjit Kumar Das during the inauguration of a state-of-the-art ultrasonography facility installed at the hospital on June 21.

According to the decision, women delivering more than three children will be required to pay hospital charges equivalent to the fees charged at medical colleges and other hospitals for delivery services.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Barpeta Road FRU Hospital Management Committee, chaired by Ranjit Kumar Dass in his capacity as MLA of the Bhawanipur-Sarbhog constituency and president of the hospital management committee.

Speaking at the event, Das also urged the state Health Department and Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal to implement a similar policy across all government hospitals in Assam.

He said that since the government has already adopted family planning measures, strict rules limiting free delivery services for families with more than three children would help make the state's family planning programme more effective and successful.

Dass further directed doctors and healthcare staff to discharge their duties responsibly and warned against negligence in public healthcare services.

He appealed to the public to submit written complaints against doctors who remain absent from hospitals, treat patients primarily in private clinics, or fail to provide proper medical care.

The Speaker said such complaints could be forwarded to him through municipal board members and village panchayat representatives for appropriate action.

The decision has sparked discussion in the region, with many closely watching whether similar measures will be adopted in other government hospitals across Assam.