Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Schemes
Why in News?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the nationwide celebrations to commemorate “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care”.
Aim – To provide fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month, particularly during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
Launch – On 9th June 2016
Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Objective – To address the critical need for standardised maternal healthcare services and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the country.
Implementation – By the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, through the National Health Mission at state and district levels.
Coverage – Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, District Hospitals, and urban health facilities.
The applications are accepted both online through the PMSMA portal and offline at designated government health facilities.
Eligibility
The applicant must be a pregnant woman in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
Must be an Indian citizen residing in India.
Willing to visit designated government health facilities on the 9th of every month.
Key Features
Monthly antenatal checkups on the 9th of every month at public health facilities.
Services provided by Obstetrics & Gynaecology specialists, radiologists and physicians, with private sector support.
Minimum package for every woman, like essential investigations (including 2nd trimester ultrasound), iron folic acid tablets, calcium supplements, and other prescribed medicines.
Single window system for all streamlined investigations and medicine distribution.
Special focus on
Unregistered or missed antenatal care women
Dropouts
High-risk pregnancies
Distribution of Mother and Child Protection Cards and safe motherhood booklets.
High-risk pregnancy identification via stickers
Green sticker (no risk)
Red sticker (high risk)
Use mobile app and web portal to locate nearest PMSMA facility.
Significance – PMSMA is a vital pillar of the Government’s Continuum of Care approach under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.
It focuses on improving the quality, coverage, diagnostics, and counselling of antenatal care (ANC).
