The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, launched the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) to pregnant women free of cost, specifically on the 9th of every month. While basic ANC services are routinely offered, the PMSMA ensures specialised care from OBGY specialists, radiologists, and physicians at government health facilities. This article explores the scheme’s objectives, benefits, eligibility, and other important details—along with the importance of having health insurance for complete maternity protection.
What is Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan?
While routine antenatal care is available to all pregnant women, the PMSMA scheme offers specialised ANC services delivered by OBGY specialists, radiologists, and physicians at government health facilities. Under this initiative, women in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters receive a minimum package of antenatal services at designated public health centres (PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, and urban health facilities) across both urban and rural areas.
Following a single-window approach, the campaign ensures that essential investigations and free medicines—such as iron-folic acid (IFA) and calcium supplements—are provided during the visit. A key focus of PMSMA is the early identification and monitoring of high-risk pregnancies, which are marked with red stickers on the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card for proper follow-up.
Objectives of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)
Given below are the key objectives of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA):
- Ensure a minimum of one antenatal check-up for all pregnant women during their second or third trimester by a physician/specialist.
- Enhance the quality of care during antenatal visits by providing:
- Necessary diagnostic services.
- Screening for relevant clinical conditions.
- Proper management of existing clinical conditions like anaemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, etc.
- Adequate counselling services and accurate documentation of rendered services.
- Offer additional service opportunities to pregnant women who have missed antenatal visits.
- Identify and list high-risk pregnancies based on obstetric/medical history and existing clinical conditions.
- Ensure appropriate birth planning and readiness for complications for each pregnant woman, especially those with identified risk factors or comorbid conditions.
- Place special emphasis on early detection and proper management of women with malnutrition.
- Provide focused attention to adolescent and early pregnancies, as they require additional and specialised care.