INTRODUCTION
Maternal and child health (MCH) is one of the most crucial indicators of a nation’s overall healthcare development. Despite various advancements, India still faces substantial challenges in ensuring safe pregnancies, deliveries, and healthy childhoods. Investing in dedicated maternal and child health infrastructure is not just a social necessity—but a critical step toward a healthier future generation.
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
| Estimated Population | 125 million |
| Annual Births | 25 million |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) | 97 per 100,000 live births |
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | 28 per 1,000 live births |
| Under-5 Mortality Rate | 32 per 1,000 live births |
HOW DOES INDIA COMPARE GLOBALLY?
| Indicator | India | Global Average |
| MMR | 97 | ~113 |
| IMR | 28 | ~26 |
| Pediatrician per 100,000 | <4 | >10 |
| Institutional Delivery
Rate |
~88% | >95% (developed nations) |
Key Insight:India has made significant progress but still lags in quality and access—especially in remote regions.
CURRENT CHALLENGES IN MCH CARE
💡 WHY INVEST IN MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE?
🔴Reduce Preventable Mortality: Address leading causes of maternal and child deaths through timely medical intervention, emergency obstetric care, and neonatal support.
🏥Enhance Institutional Deliveries: Promote safer childbirth with wellequipped maternity wards, labour rooms, and trained staff—especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
👩⚕️Bridge the Specialist Gap: Expand access to critical experts like gynaecologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, and midwives across all levels of care.
💉Boost Preventive Care: Strengthen immunization coverage, manage nutrition deficiencies, and provide early diagnosis for birth defects and infections.
🌍Advance SDG Commitments: Contribute directly to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3.1 and 3.2—reducing maternal and under-five mortality.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES SUPPORTING MCH
| | Key Features |
| Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) | Financial assistance for institutional delivery |
| LaQshya Program | Improves labor room & maternity OT quality |
| POSHAN Abhiyaan | Tackles malnutrition in pregnant women & children |
| Rashtriya Bal Swasthya
Karyakram (RBSK) |
Early screening of children for birth defects & diseases |
| SurakshitMatritvaAashwasan
(SUMAN) |
Assured respectful maternal care, free services for mothers and newborns |
IS THERE A NEED FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH HOSPITALS?
Absolutely – Here’s Why:
CONCLUSION
India’s maternal and child healthcare system is at a pivotal point. While improvements in institutional births and antenatal coverage have been remarkable, gaps in infrastructure, workforce, and outreach remain. Establishing specialized MCH hospitals, particularly in underserved areas, is not just a healthcare requirement— it’s an investment in the future of the nation.
Source:
https://www.unicef.org/india/keydata#:~:text=With%20the%20birth%20of%2025,the%20world’s%20annual%20child%20births.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1879912https://nhm.gov.in/https://www.who.int/health–topics/maternal–health
Related Team Members
