The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare marked the 10th anniversary of PMSMA on 9 June 2026, having been launched on 9 June 2016. It is a flagship initiative under the National Health Mission to provide quality antenatal care (ANC) to pregnant women.
Key Features and Objectives
- Fixed-Day Service: Comprehensive ANC services are provided free of cost on the 9th of every month.
- Target Group: Focuses on pregnant women in their second and third trimesters, prioritizing rural and underserved tribal areas.
- Services Provided: Includes clinical examinations, essential laboratory diagnostics (Hb, HIV, Syphilis, blood sugar), free ultrasonography, and medicinal supplementation (IFA and Calcium).
- High-Risk Pregnancy (HRP) Identification: Utilizes a color-coding system on MCH cards:
- Green: Normal pregnancy.
- Red: High-risk requiring specialist care.
- Blue: Pregnancy-induced hypertension.
- Yellow: Co-morbidities (diabetes, cardiac, etc.).
- Public-Private Partnership: Encourages private sector doctors to volunteer services via the “I Pledge for 9” campaign to address specialist shortages.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Institutional Framework: Operates under the RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health) strategy.
- Global Target: Aligns with SDG Target 3.1, aiming for an MMR of less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.
- Synergy: Complements the PMMVY (direct cash transfer for wage loss) and Anemia Mukt Bharat (6x6x6 strategy).
- SUMAN Initiative: Ensures zero tolerance for denial of services to pregnant women or newborns.