India makes significant progress in reducing maternal mortality decline, on course to meet SDG target
By Shalini Bhardwaj, New Delhi, May 29
India's maternal health journey over the last three decades is emerging as one of the most significant public health transformations globally, officials said on Friday, noting that the country's Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined to nearly 87 maternal deaths per one lakh live births as per the latest Sample Registration System Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality, reflecting India's sustained progress in improving maternal survival.
This achievement has also been acknowledged globally through the latest estimates released by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG), which indicate that India's MMR has reduced from 560 per lakh live births in 1990 to nearly 80 per lakh live births in 2023, the officials said.
This represents an impressive 86% decline, substantially higher than the global average reduction of 48% during the same period. India has already achieved the National Health Policy target of reducing MMR below 100 and is steadily progressing towards the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing MMR to below 70 by 2030.
Notably, six States, i.e. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Gujarat have already achieved the SDG target level of MMR below 70. Historically high-burden States such as Odisha, Assam, and Chhattisgarh have recorded some of the sharpest declines in maternal mortality, reflecting focused investments in strengthening maternal healthcare systems, referral services, skilled birth attendance, and high-risk pregnancy management in priority geographies.
Officials said that this progress reflects sustained political commitment, strengthened primary healthcare systems, digital innovations, expanded institutional delivery services, and large-scale community mobilisation under the National Health Mission.
Flagship programmes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), Poshan Abhiyaan, Midwifery-Led Care Units (MLCUs), and Ayushman Bharat have collectively strengthened maternal and newborn healthcare services across the country, they said. (ANI
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good progress, but let's not get too complacent. The SDG target is below 70 and we're at 87 as per the latest bulletin. Plus, rural-urban disparities remain huge. In states like UP and Bihar, conditions are still far from ideal. We need more ASHA workers on ground and better equipped PHCs in remote areas. The real work starts now.
Hats off to our healthcare workers! My sister is a nurse in a government hospital in rural Karnataka - she says the number of women coming for antenatal checkups has doubled in the last 5 years. PMSMA's free checkups on the 9th of every month are really popular. Though I wish the midday meal scheme for pregnant women was implemented better in some districts.
Impressive numbers! As someone working in global health, I can say India's 86% decline is truly exceptional. The fact that 6 states have already hit SDG targets while high-burden ones show sharpest declines points to effective targeting. Would be interesting to see a breakdown by district-level to understand best practices.
Read the full ANI report. The digital innovations part caught my eye - using tech for tracking high-risk pregnancies through RCH portal has been very effective in my district. But we still need more midwifery-led care units in tier-2 cities. The 48% global average decline shows how far ahead India is. Good job, Ministry of Health! 👏
As a new mother myself, I can
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