New Delhi, June 2026: As the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) completes a decade of service, the initiative is once again in the spotlight for its contribution to improving maternal healthcare across India. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda recently highlighted the scheme’s achievements, describing it as a transformative program that has strengthened antenatal care and promoted safe motherhood nationwide.
What is PMSMA?
The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) is a flagship maternal healthcare initiative launched by the Government of India on June 9, 2016. The program aims to provide free, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) to all pregnant women, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Under the scheme, pregnant women are entitled to receive specialized health check-ups by qualified doctors and specialists on the 9th day of every month at designated government health facilities across the country.
Key Objectives of PMSMA
The primary goals of PMSMA include:
- Ensuring universal access to quality antenatal care.
- Early detection and management of high-risk pregnancies.
- Providing specialist consultations to pregnant women.
- Reducing maternal mortality and infant mortality rates.
- Promoting institutional deliveries and safer pregnancies.
- Strengthening maternal and child healthcare services.
How PMSMA Benefits Pregnant Women
The scheme offers a range of essential healthcare services, including:
- Comprehensive antenatal examinations.
- Blood pressure monitoring and anemia screening.
- Blood and urine tests.
- Nutritional counseling.
- Identification of pregnancy-related complications.
- Referral services for high-risk cases.
- Guidance on safe delivery and newborn care.
By identifying complications early, healthcare providers can ensure timely intervention, reducing the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Nadda Highlights a Decade of Progress
Speaking on the occasion of PMSMA completing 10 years, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda emphasized that the initiative has significantly improved access to quality maternal healthcare services.
He noted that the campaign has helped ensure timely risk identification, specialist medical consultations, and better monitoring of pregnancies, all of which have contributed to safer motherhood and healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.
A Decade of Strengthening Maternal Healthcare
Over the past ten years, PMSMA has become an integral part of India’s healthcare system. The initiative has enabled millions of pregnant women, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, to access professional medical care during pregnancy.
Health experts believe that the program has played an important role in supporting India’s efforts to lower maternal mortality rates and improve overall maternal health indicators.
Looking Ahead
As PMSMA enters its second decade, the government aims to further strengthen maternal healthcare services by expanding access, improving healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring that every pregnant woman receives timely and quality antenatal care.
The milestone reflects India’s continued commitment to safeguarding maternal health and ensuring a healthier future for mothers and newborns across the country.
Key Highlights
- PMSMA stands for Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan.
- The scheme was launched on June 9, 2016.
- It provides free antenatal care to pregnant women.
- Health check-ups are conducted on the 9th of every month.
- The initiative focuses on early detection of high-risk pregnancies.
- PMSMA has completed 10 years of service in 2026.
