Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): New Initiative to Deliver Quality Maternal Health Care in India

While India has made considerable progress in the reduction of maternal and infant mortality, every year approximately 44000 women still die due to pregnancy-related causes. Many of these deaths can be prevented if quality care is provided to pregnant women during their antenatal period. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has been launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India to provide assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month. Doctors and medical professionals working in private healthcare sector would be encouraged to participate in the scheme and give 12 days of free services per year to poor pregnant women at public health facilities where government sector practitioners are not available or inadequate. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan is really a great initiative and will certainly help pregnant women from backward classes, rural areas and uneducated in remaining healthy throughout their pregnancy.