Medical Care For Children In Need Of Care And Protection In Institutional Settings: An Empirical Study On Compliance And Systemic Barriers

Abstract

This Study critically evaluates the compliance of child care institutions with the medical care provisions mandated under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Rules focusing on institutions in Visakhapatnam District, India. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining field observations and qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys from 900 children in need of care and protection and 45 in-charges of the child care institutions. The findings indicated gaps in the availability and quality of medical care services and these are mostly caused by misallocation of resources, lack of staff training and an inadequate institutional coordination. Despite the presence of adequate healthcare laws and policies, there are persistent issues in implementation that impede the provision of efficient care, consequently affecting the health and well-being of children in child care institutions. The Study emphasizes the necessity of improved caregiver training programs, enhanced resource management and more robust monitoring and assessment systems to guarantee compliance. The Study addresses these shortcomings and recommends capacity-building programs for caregivers, structured medical screening protocols, improved institutional monitoring, and strengthened healthcare partnerships to ensure compliance with statutory mandates.