PMSMA Completes 10 Years: A Decade of Care

PMSMA Completes 10 Years: A Decade of Care

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare marked “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care” on 9 June 2026, celebrating a decade of successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). The initiative has played a significant role in improving maternal healthcare by ensuring access to quality antenatal services for pregnant women across India.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA)

¨     PMSMA was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on 9 June 2016.

¨     It provides free, comprehensive and quality Antenatal Care (ANC) services to pregnant women on the 9th day of every month at designated government health facilities.

¨     The scheme primarily targets women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Objectives

¨     Ensure at least one specialist antenatal check-up for every pregnant woman in the second or third trimester.

¨     Improve the quality and coverage of ANC services, including diagnostics and counselling.

¨     Identify and manage High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs) at an early stage.

¨     Promote appropriate birth planning and complication readiness.

¨     Provide additional opportunities for women who have missed routine ANC visits.

High-Risk Pregnancy (HRP) Management

¨     One of the most important components of PMSMA is the identification and follow-up of 25 high-risk pregnancy categories, including severe anaemia, hypertension, gestational diabetes, HIV, hypothyroidism and multiple pregnancies.

¨     Colour-coded stickers are used on MCP cards: Green Sticker (Normal pregnancy) and Red Sticker (High-Risk Pregnancy).

¨     High-risk cases are linked to First Referral Units (FRUs) for specialist care and safe delivery.

e-PMSMA (Extended PMSMA): Launched in January 2022 to strengthen monitoring and follow-up of HRPs. Features include

¨     Name-based line listing of HRPs.

¨     Individual tracking up to 45 days after delivery.

¨     Additional PMSMA sessions (up to four per month).

¨     SMS alerts to beneficiaries and ASHA workers.

¨     Incentives for ASHAs and beneficiaries to ensure follow-up visits.

Key Achievements

¨     Expanded Maternal Healthcare Coverage: PMSMA has provided free and quality antenatal care services to more than 7.5 crore pregnant women since its launch in 2016.

¨     Strengthened High-Risk Pregnancy Management: The programme has established a nationwide system for early identification, referral and continuous monitoring of High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs).

¨     Improved Maternal Health Outcomes: India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 130 per lakh live births (2014–16) to 87 per lakh live births (2022–24) during the period of PMSMA’s implementation.

¨     Digital Transformation of Maternal Care: The launch of e-PMSMA in 2022 strengthened digital tracking and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies until safe maternal and neonatal outcomes are achieved.

Significance

¨    Advancing Safe Motherhood: PMSMA ensures timely antenatal screening, diagnosis and treatment, thereby promoting safer pregnancies and childbirth.

¨  Reducing Maternal and Neonatal Mortality: Early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications help reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

¨     Promoting Equitable Healthcare Access: The scheme provides free specialist antenatal care services to pregnant women, particularly those in underserved and remote areas.

¨     Supporting National and Global Health Goals: PMSMA contributes to achieving India’s maternal health targets under the National Health Policy, 2017 and the SDGs.