What is PICME?

Registration through PICME stands for Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation process designed for comprehensive maternal and child health monitoring within the country. It's one of the schemes by the Government of India aimed at monitoring and evaluating maternal and child health. This will help track, on a real-time basis, the health and wellness of pregnant women and their newborns throughout pregnancy and early months of life. The registration through PICME enlists pregnant women in essential healthcare services, timely medical interventions, and follow-up health check-ups. It is initiated from the local health facility, starting with the provision of all the detailed information on the person and medical records to generate a PICME ID. The PICME ID is used throughout in managing the service coordination to ensure adequate support and resources for a healthy beginning for both mother and child.

Why PICME Registration is Important?

PICME provides the necessary framework for ensuring complete, continuous care for pregnant women. It facilitates early identification of any potential health issues, provides a structured approach to dealing with health concerns that may arise due to pregnancy, and ensures the mother and baby are supported with whatever resources are available. The system also affords better planning and coordination in healthcare through detailed health records.

Process of PICME Registration 

In India, PICME is the register for pregnancy and infant cohort monitoring and evaluation. A few steps are required to be followed in this regard to keep the recording and issuance of a child's birth certificate on track, with the added purpose of monitoring maternal and child health. The following is a step-by-step view of how it goes:

Visiting a health facility: It all begins with a visit to a Primary Health Centre or a government hospital. It is where the registration process for PICME starts. It is crucial to choose a health facility that is authorized for PICME registrations, so that records may be kept correctly.

Details to be provided: It is necessary to provide information during the time of registration. These may include personal details such as your name, age, and address besides family data and certain pregnancy-related information. It may be in the form of forms or a set of questions regarding previous medical histories and present health conditions.

PICME ID to be assigned: Upon registration, you would have a PICME ID assigned. This is important because, through this, the health status of you and your baby throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period will be followed. It acts like a reference number for all future interactions with the healthcare system under the PICME initiative.

Routine Check-ups: Availing a PICME ID will automatically schedule routine check-ups with your health provider. These check-ups are necessary to monitor the health of both you and your baby to catch any complications in their early stages. The PICME system also monitors dates regarding immunizations, among other vital health parameters.

Birth Certificate Process: Step-by-Step Process

After your baby's birth, the next significant thing is to get the birth certificate. This is a written declaration of your child's birth and an important document for several other legal and administrative purposes: for getting health care, school admission, getting a passport, and many more.

Registration of Birth: The birth of your baby needs to be registered with the local municipal authority. This is usually done at the same hospital where the delivery has taken place. While most hospitals assist in the initial steps, follow-through is required to complete any remaining paperwork.

Documents Required: To complete the registration of birth, you need to procure and provide several documents:

• Hospital Birth Certificate: This is an issuance by the hospital or nursing home where your baby was born. It contains information such as date and time of birth and the name of the baby.
• PICME ID: The PICME ID has to be provided, which was given at the time of pregnancy registration. This helps in verifying the details and keeping the same continuity in the records.
• Parent Identification: Attach identification documents for both parents, such as Aadhar cards, voter IDs, and passports, for identity verification purposes. 
• Proof of Residence: Some municipalities may request proof of your current address, such as a utility bill or a rent agreement.

Submit Application: Fill up the birth registration form, as provided at the municipal office or online, whichever way your locality offers the facility, and submit it along with other necessary documents to the concerned municipal authority. In some regions, the facility of online registration may be available, which would be pretty hassle-free.

Receive the Birth Certificate: The birth certificate shall be issued after the verification and processing of the application. Depending on the different procedures that a local authority may have, the time for processing varies. It is always better to ask how long the processing time would take and follow up where necessary.

Tips for a Smooth Process

• Keep Documents Ready: Ensure that you have all the necessary documents ready in advance, to ensure smooth processing at one go without any impediment when you approach the health facility or municipal office.
• Follow-up: Continuous calls to the health facility and municipal office to follow up on your PICME registration and your application for a birth certificate will help to mediate these problems as soon as possible.
• Seek Help: Regarding any difficulty or query, immediate help should be sought without any hesitation from the health facility or municipal office. They can better advice and facilitate the process.

Conclusion

The process of PICME registration and the issuance of the birth certificate are very important steps about ensuring the healthcare and legal credentials of both mother and baby. 

PICME will facilitate comprehensive health monitoring during pregnancy, thereby ensuring timely medical care and support in general for mother and baby. After birth, a birth certificate has to be taken out, which comes in very useful for proving the legal existence of your child and thereafter while availing the various essential services. By being able to appreciate and take careful consideration of the steps that are involved in both processes, one can hope to move with ease through such requirements and focus on the happiness of the new arrival.