The Maharashtra Exemplar Report highlights the state’s significant progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality between 2000 and 2018, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for maternal mortality and nearing the SDG target for neonatal mortality. These findings are part of the Exemplars in Maternal and Newborn Health Study, that aims to understand positive outliers and inform policy and practice. 

Key Findings: 

  • Achieving near-universal coverage of key interventions such as antenatal care with content, institutional deliveries, and C-sections, particularly benefiting rural and disadvantaged populations. 
  • Strong focus on improving services in underserved (especially tribal) areas and enhancing human resource availability in facilities. 
  • Implementation of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), ensuring essential drugs and commodities at all government health facilities. 
  • In-service training programs for medical officers, nurses, and ANMs, and the Medical Officer Certificate Program to enhance skills. 
  • Partnerships with the private sector, notably FOGSI, are leading initiatives like LaQshya-Manyata for quality improvements in maternity care. 
  • Robust community engagement through committees and community-based monitoring, supported by Maharashtra’s strong panchayat system. 
  • Decentralised planning and governance at the State and Zilla Parishad levels, coupled with financial flexibility under NRHM. 
  • Emphasis on early identification of high-risk pregnancies and obstetric complications for timely care. 
  • Leadership commitment at the state level and pressure from media, health activists, and local governance structures to improve maternal and newborn health. 

This report presents the Maharashtra sub-study and provides background information on the broader India study. 

Download PDF
SHARE:

Recent Post

Rationalizing Medical Officer Deployment in Uttar Pradesh

Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are the backbone of rural healthcare, serving as the first point of care for communities. In Uttar Pradesh, uneven distribution and high vacancy rates of Medical Officers (MOs) undermined their effectiveness. To address this, MO deployment was rationalized. This document outlines the approach, outcomes, and policy relevance of the exercise to strengthen workforce distribution in the health sector.

PAHAL Issue 26

The 26th edition of the PAHAL newsletter – a reflection of our collective support to the Department of Health Department of Medical Education and ICDS towards strengthening public health services across community, facility, and health systems in Uttar Pradesh.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: Breathing Innovations

To tackle high neonatal mortality rate (NMR) in Uttar Pradesh due to Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) which is also a leading factor, Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) rolled out the implementation of b-CPAP across SNCUs across the state in a phased manner, starting with 32 units, and supported by a detailed action plan and coordination with various stakeholders.