PMSMA is based on the premise: If every pregnant woman is examined by a physician once during the PMSMA, the process can result in reduction in the number of maternal and neonatal deaths in our country.

• Neonatal death refers to the death of a baby in the first 28 days of life.

About Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)

• Launched: 2016 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• Aim: Provide assured, comprehensive & quality antenatal care (ANC), free of cost, universally to all pregnant women.
• Guarantee: A minimum package of ANC to women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.

Key Features of PMSMA

• Services Provided by: OBGY (Obstetrics & Gynecology) specialists, radiologists, and physicians (including private doctors).
• Free ANC services, tests (including 1 ultrasound), and medicines ((Iron and Folic Acid (IFA), calcium) offered on the 9th of each month at public health facilities.
• Special focus on: Unregistered or missed ANC women, Dropouts, High-risk pregnancies.
• High-risk pregnancy identification: Green sticker: no risk; Red sticker: high risk.
• PMSMA complements other existing programs of the government like: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), POSHAN Abhiyaan etc.

Key-Achievements of PMSMA

• Significant improvement in India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021-23.
• Over 6 crore pregnant women have been examined under PMSMA.