Maternal anaemia continues to be a significant public health concern in India, contributing to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, postpartum haemorrhage, and maternal mortality. The challenge is particularly pronounced in Uttar Pradesh, where a large proportion of pregnant women experience iron deficiency anaemia. While oral iron and folic acid supplementation remains the primary strategy for prevention and treatment, issues such as poor adherence, gastrointestinal side effects, and the need for rapid correction of anaemia during pregnancy often limit its effectiveness. Intravenous iron sucrose has helped bridge this gap, but the requirement for multiple infusions and repeated facility visits can create operational and access-related challenges for both health systems and beneficiaries.

Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) presents an important advancement in the management of maternal anaemia. As a single-dose intravenous iron therapy that delivers a large amount of elemental iron in a single sitting, FCM offers a faster, more convenient, and more effective treatment option for women with moderate to severe anaemia. Recognising its potential, Uttar Pradesh has undertaken a systematic effort to introduce FCM within the public health system. This has involved policy advocacy, inclusion of FCM in the state’s Essential Drug List, large-scale procurement, provider capacity building, and integration into existing maternal anaemia management platforms. The rollout has been closely aligned with the Screen–Refer–Track–Treat (SRTT) approach, strengthening the continuum of care from early identification and referral to treatment and follow-up.

The experience demonstrates how coordinated action between government institutions, technical partners, and frontline health providers can accelerate the adoption of innovative interventions and strengthen maternal health services at scale. To learn more about Uttar Pradesh’s journey in introducing and operationalising FCM for maternal anaemia management, read the knowledge brief here.

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