*— Punjab to get ₹400Cr financial incentive following historic healthcare milestone*
*— State achieves SDG 2030 target for Neonatal Mortality Rate well ahead of deadline*
*— Dr Balbir Singh credits Aam Aadmi Clinics, MCH wings, and midwifery cadre for the health revolution*
In a monumental triumph for public health, Punjab has scaled new heights by decisively outperforming national benchmarks across all vital maternal and child health indicators in the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data.
Announcing this milestone, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh revealed that the state has achieved a remarkable reduction in its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which has plummeted to 77 per lakh live births (SRS 2022-2024), comfortably eclipsing the national average of 87. In SRS 2021-2023, the state's MMR was 90 per lakh live births.
This downward trajectory from previous metrics is mirrored by stellar progress in protecting young lives; Punjab has registered an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of just 16 against the national average of 24, a Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) of 11 against the country’s baseline of 18, and an Under-5 Mortality Rate of 19 compared to India’s average of 28. This comprehensive breakthrough, validated by the Office of the Registrar General of India, firmly positions Punjab as a frontrunner in the nation’s healthcare delivery ecosystem.
This monumental healthcare progress is all set to bring a substantial financial incentive of Rs 400 crore for Punjab, under the latest health sector scheme that links financial assistance directly to improvements in performance metrics and quality benchmarks.
It is pertinent to mention that Punjab has already achieved the SDG - 2030 goal with respect to NMR which is below 12, marking a significant achievement well before the 2030 deadline.
Lauding the dedicated efforts of the healthcare workforce, Dr Balbir Singh stated that these improved health indicators reflect the unwavering dedication of healthcare teams working relentlessly across the state to strengthen maternal and child care services.
Dr Balbir Singh emphasized that the government has adopted a comprehensive approach to address reproductive and child health, ensuring that quality institutional care is accessible to every citizen. He noted that the state's strategic focus on upgrading healthcare delivery systems has directly contributed to lowering the lifetime risk of maternal death for women across Punjab's reproductive age-span.
The Minister further expressed his gratitude to the frontline health workers whose persistent grassroots efforts have turned these statistics into a reality, ensuring a safer environment for mothers and newborns alike.
A cornerstone of this healthcare revolution is the aggressive, state-wide expansion of specialized medical infrastructure, spearheaded by the operationalization of 39 dedicated Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wings.
Dr Balbir Singh explained that these state-of-the-art facilities act as critical lifelines, providing comprehensive, round-the-clock emergency obstetric and neonatal care seamlessly under one roof.
In tandem with these structural advancements, Punjab has pioneered a progressive shift toward natural childbirth by introducing a specialized healthcare cadre. To curtail unnecessary caesarean sections, which carry an inherently higher risk of maternal complications, the state has successfully graduated three batches of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPM) from the prestigious National Midwifery Training Institute (NMTI) in Patiala.
Furthermore, the state's foundational healthcare network has received a massive boost through the integration of Aam Aadmi Clinics, where posted doctors now provide robust, localized Antenatal Care (ANC) services to expectant mothers. To eliminate financial barriers to safe motherhood, all essential diagnostics—including specialized ultrasound scans—and vital medicines are being distributed completely free of charge.
The Health Minister highlighted that this historic milestone is the culmination of achieving an outstanding 99.86% institutional delivery rate, combined with the rigorous, aggressive implementation of flagship health schemes such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), Surakshit Matritva Ashwasan (SUMAN), the Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative (LaQshya), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karaykram (JSSK), Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), and the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA).
He further stated that all High-risk pregnant women are being tracked through the state's medical helpline 104. Every high-risk pregnant woman is called from time to time to inquire about their well-being and to check other health indicators.
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