RCH ID mandatory for birth certificates

CHENNAI: If the department of public health (DPH) goes by its schedule, expecting parents should provide the RCH ID (Reproductive and Child Health ID) number to download the birth certificates of their newborn babies from April 1. 

“Village and urban nurses have been uploading details of expecting mothers to Pregnant and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) software and providing 12-digit RCH ID numbers. Expecting mothers can obtain RCH ID at public health centres, urban PHCs and government hospitals after registering in PICME software. They can also register their details from home,” a DPH official said.

A Greater Chennai Corporation official said that the state is planning to roll out a unified portal to download birth and death certificates.

“The DPH is likely to introduce the new facility from April 1. Parents should provide an RCH ID number to download birth certificates. This proviso will prevent irregularities in the system and crimes based on forged birth certificates,” the official added.

The RCH ID will help mothers obtain continued ante-natal care from hospitals. Mothers who have obtained RCH ID will also benefit from the Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Assistance Scheme.

Director of public health K. Kolandaswamy said that some private hospitals fail to register in PICME and generate RCH IDs. “Now we have made RCH ID mandatory for birth certificates so that private hospitals will be forced to abide by the rules,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DPH is also planning to make Aadhaar number of the kin to download death certificates of their dear departed.