New Delhi: A Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in its 172nd report, has recommended the immediate abolition of the prior-consent requirement for all emergency neonatal and paediatric referrals to ensure faster and seamless medical intervention.
The Committee highlighted the severe shortage of specialised neonatal and paediatric care facilities at district hospitals and warned that the situation poses a serious public health risk, particularly for newborns and infants.
Panel Flags Delays in Critical Patient Transfers
The Committee observed that the existing administrative protocol requiring a formal consent letter from a district hospital before transferring a critically ill patient to an empanelled facility can result in dangerous delays.
According to the Committee, such bureaucratic hurdles during the critical “golden hour” of medical emergencies can cause unnecessary suffering for vulnerable patients and their families.
It therefore recommended that the prior-consent requirement be abolished immediately for emergency neonatal and paediatric referrals.
Self-Sufficient Paediatric Units at District Hospitals
Alongside removal of the consent requirement, the Committee recommended a targeted infrastructure drive to establish self-sufficient paediatric care units directly within all district hospitals.
The proposed approach is aimed at strengthening district-level capacity so that critically ill children and newborns can receive timely specialised care without unnecessary administrative or referral-related delays.
Panel Stresses Importance of Neonatal Screening
The Committee also examined the importance of neonatal screening for the early detection of diseases.
It noted that the Department of Health Research (DHR) had highlighted the benefits of preventive interventions, including rapid diagnostic tests for Sickle Cell Disease, universal neonatal hearing screening through the Sohum device and tele-screening for diabetic retinopathy.
According to the report, such interventions have helped prevent irreversible disease progression while also resulting in substantial savings for the public exchequer.
Sohum Device Recommended for Universal Hearing Screening
The report noted that Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAIn) has recommended the indigenous Sohum device for universal neonatal hearing screening.
The device has reportedly been deployed across 58 districts in six States and has also been exported to five countries.
The Committee highlighted these developments as examples of how preventive screening and early diagnosis can help identify health conditions at an early stage and support timely intervention.
Nationwide Screening Tools Recommended
The Committee has further recommended the immediate integration and nationwide rollout of ICMR-validated syndromic diagnostic algorithms and point-of-care screening tools across all Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
The recommendation is aimed at strengthening early detection and preventive healthcare at the primary and community levels.
By expanding access to validated screening and diagnostic tools, the Committee seeks to improve early identification of diseases and reduce the risk of patients progressing to more severe stages before receiving appropriate care.
Important Highlights
- A Parliamentary Committee has recommended scrapping prior consent for emergency neonatal and paediatric referrals.
- The panel flagged delays caused by administrative requirements during critical medical emergencies.
- It recommended developing self-sufficient paediatric care units within all district hospitals.
- The Committee stressed the importance of neonatal screening for early disease detection.
- The indigenous Sohum device has been recommended for universal neonatal hearing screening and has been deployed across 58 districts in six States.
- Nationwide rollout of ICMR-validated diagnostic algorithms and point-of-care screening tools has also been recommended for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and PHCs.