New Delhi: India has successfully brought down its Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to 100 deaths per lakh live births, marking a significant achievement in the country’s ongoing efforts to improve maternal healthcare, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda announced on Monday.
Speaking at a health review meeting, Nadda highlighted that India’s MMR has witnessed an impressive 83% decline between 1990 and 2020, a pace of progress far exceeding the global average decline recorded over the same period.
Decline Faster Than Global Average
“From 556 deaths per lakh live births in 1990 to just 100 in 2020, India’s success story in reducing maternal mortality is a testament to targeted interventions, improved healthcare delivery, and the tireless work of frontline health workers,” the Health Minister said.
In comparison, the global average decline in MMR stood at approximately 44% during this period, indicating that India has outpaced the global trend significantly.
Key Drivers Behind the Decline
✅ Institutional Deliveries: Expansion of institutional delivery services under schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) played a key role in ensuring safe deliveries.
✅ Strengthened Rural Health Infrastructure: Investments in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and high-risk pregnancy monitoring systems improved access to quality antenatal and postnatal care in rural and remote areas.
✅ Capacity Building: Training programmes for ASHA workers, midwives, and obstetricians improved both early risk detection and timely referrals.
✅ Nutritional Support: Maternal nutrition initiatives under Poshan Abhiyaan contributed to better health outcomes for expectant mothers, reducing complications during pregnancy.
Challenges Remain
Despite the remarkable progress, Nadda cautioned that regional disparities in maternal health outcomes persist, particularly in states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, where MMR figures remain higher than the national average.
He emphasised the need for sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions and better tracking of high-risk pregnancies to further lower maternal deaths.
Global Recognition
Public health experts have praised India’s achievement as a critical step toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing MMR to below 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
“India’s commitment to maternal health has shown that even with a large population, rapid gains in reducing preventable maternal deaths are possible through focused policy action, community engagement, and technology-driven health monitoring,” said a senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Next Steps
The Health Ministry has outlined a Maternal Health Action Plan 2030, which includes:
✅ Expanding comprehensive emergency obstetric care in every district.
✅ Enhancing maternal health tracking using digital health tools.
✅ Increasing adolescent health education to prevent teen pregnancies.
✅ Strengthening maternal mental health support services.
Conclusion
India’s journey from 556 maternal deaths per lakh live births in 1990 to just 100 in 2020 underscores a transformational shift in its maternal healthcare ecosystem. With a continued focus on equity and quality, public health experts believe India can become a global leader in maternal health outcomes in the coming decade.
