National Health Mission (NHM), J&K, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Khyber Medical Institute, Florence Hospital and Noora Hospital Srinagar for achieving the desired objective of conducting surgical procedures of children in the age group of 0-18 years suffering from various ailments.The MoU was signed by the representatives of the private hospitals and Mission Director NHM Dr. Mohan Singh at Srinagar under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK) scheme for the children who otherwise are not able to get timely treatment due to long waiting period/non-referral in public health institutions. The States of Tripura and Rajasthan have already empanelled and signed MoU with private hospitals under RBSK.The decision of empanelling private hospitals in J&K under RBSK for providing surgical interventions to the identified children as per the cost of surgical package mentioned in Procedure and Model Costing guidelines of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was taken in the Executive Committee meeting of the State Health Society NHM, J&K. The meeting was held under the chairmanship Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education Department Dr Pawan Kotwal.The private hospitals have been empanelled for providing timely services by well qualified and experienced medical professionals to the specified beneficiaries to ensure that no out of pocket expenses are incurred by the beneficiaries. Under RBSK scheme ailments include Neural Tube Defect, Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate, Talipes (Club Foot), Developmental Dysplasia of the hip, Congenital Cataract, Congenital Heart diseases, Retinopathy of Prematurity, Otitis Media, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Dental Diseases, Vision Impairment and Hearing Impairment are covered for surgical procedures.Besides carrying surgical procedures it shall be the responsibility of the concerned private hospital to ensure complete free follow-up/check-up of the children after the surgical procedures depending on the nature of the surgery.