The Centre’s updated child health screening initiative, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram 2.0, has drawn criticism from a national collective of doctors with disabilities, who argue that the programme does not sufficiently address disability-related healthcare needs despite its expanded scope.
The concerns were raised in a formal representation submitted to the Union Health Ministry by “Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change,” a collective comprising healthcare professionals with disabilities. The representation was signed by Prof. Dr. Satendra Singh on behalf of the group.
According to the collective, the revised version of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, commonly known as RBSK, expands the overall coverage of child health screening but fails to make disability inclusion a central priority. The group stated that this could result in many children missing out on timely diagnosis, intervention, and long-term support services.
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram is a government programme aimed at identifying health conditions among children at an early stage. The initiative focuses on screening children for birth defects, developmental delays, diseases, and deficiencies to ensure early medical care and support.
However, experts associated with the collective argued that the revised programme does not adequately reflect modern disability rights frameworks or existing legal obligations related to inclusive healthcare. They stated that disability should not be treated as a secondary concern within child health programmes.
In the representation, the group reportedly highlighted the importance of adopting a rights-based approach to disability screening and support. Experts noted that early identification of developmental and neurological conditions is essential for improving healthcare outcomes and educational support for children with disabilities.
The collective also referred to international developments in healthcare policy, where disability inclusion is increasingly being integrated into mainstream public health systems. According to the representation, India’s child health screening policies should align more closely with these global standards and domestic legal commitments.
Healthcare experts believe that early diagnosis plays a major role in improving quality of life for children with disabilities. Delays in identification or lack of access to specialized care can affect education, rehabilitation, and long-term social inclusion.
The group also reportedly emphasized the need for better training of healthcare workers involved in screening programmes. They suggested that frontline medical staff should receive additional guidance to identify developmental disabilities and provide referrals for appropriate intervention services.
Public health specialists say large-scale screening programmes like RBSK can become more effective if disability inclusion is integrated at every stage, including policy planning, screening guidelines, data collection, and follow-up treatment support.
The Union Health Ministry has not yet issued an official response regarding the concerns raised by the collective. However, the discussion has generated attention among healthcare professionals and disability rights advocates, who have called for more inclusive public health policies.
Experts also stressed that strengthening disability-focused screening within child healthcare programmes would support early intervention efforts and reduce long-term healthcare challenges for affected families.
As discussions continue, health policy observers say the debate around RBSK 2.0 highlights the growing importance of inclusive healthcare planning in India’s public health system. The concerns raised by doctors and disability rights advocates are expected to contribute to further policy discussions in the coming months.