Punjab health minister claims improvements in maternal mortality ratio infant mortality rate

Chandigarh, May 21 (PTI) Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday claimed the state has made significant improvements in maternal mortality ratio (MMR), infant mortality rate (IMR), neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate.
     He said it reflected the AAP government's sustained focus on strengthening public healthcare infrastructure and ensuring quality maternal and child care services across the state.
    Sharing the details, Singh said Punjab's MMR dropped to 77 per lakh live births, significantly better than the national average of 87.
    He said that Punjab has recorded an IMR of 16 against the national average of 24, an NMR of 11 compared to the country's average of 18, and an under-5 mortality rate of 19 against India's average of 28.
    "Punjab has made remarkable progress in maternal and child healthcare, and these achievements reflect the unwavering dedication of our healthcare workforce and the Punjab government's commitment to providing quality healthcare services to every citizen," he said in a statement here.
    Punjab has already achieved the SDG-2030 target for NMR by bringing it below 12, which is a significant milestone achieved well ahead of the deadline, the minister said.
    The state's outstanding performance is expected to bring a financial incentive of nearly Rs 400 crore for Punjab under the latest performance-linked health sector scheme of the central government, he said.
    The Bhagwant Mann government has adopted a comprehensive approach to reproductive and child healthcare by strengthening institutional healthcare delivery systems and ensuring quality maternal and neonatal care facilities across the state, he said.
    Expressing gratitude to frontline healthcare workers, Singh said their relentless efforts at the grassroots level have played a crucial role in ensuring safer pregnancies and improved healthcare outcomes for mothers and newborns across Punjab.
    Singh said the government has operationalised 39 dedicated Maternal and Child Health (MCH) wings across the state to provide comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care under one roof. These specialised facilities act as critical lifelines for mothers and newborns by ensuring round-the-clock emergency healthcare services, he said.
    The minister further stated that Punjab has also initiated major reforms to promote natural childbirth and reduce unnecessary caesarean sections by creating a specialised healthcare cadre. The government is working to reduce avoidable caesarean procedures and strengthen safe childbirth practices through trained midwifery professionals, he said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)