MP Health Review: Pregnancy Risk Care, Telemedicine and Maternal Data
A high-level review of health programmes in Madhya Pradesh has highlighted a significant gap in care for high-risk pregnancies. Only 30 per cent of women identified as high-risk are being hospitalised in time, despite a large monitoring network already in place.
The review meeting, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, focused on National Health Mission programmes. Shukla directed officials to tighten early identification, close monitoring and timely treatment for high-risk pregnancies.
A government statement noted that about 62 lakh pregnant women are registered on the Anmol portal. Of these, roughly 2 lakh have been recognised as high-risk. The Suman Integrated Command Centre also keeps track of these women.
Shukla, who holds the health ministry, stressed that pregnant women should register early and complete all prescribed prenatal check-ups. He also pushed for screening under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan and for more public awareness about regular medical examinations and institutional childbirth.
The minister told officials that the duties of administrative staff and field health workers must be clearly defined. He also called for routine reviews of how maternal and child health initiatives are being carried out.
The latest Sample Registration System figures for 2022-24 record a maternal mortality rate of 135 per one lakh live births in the state. In the current financial year up to September, first-trimester registration among pregnant women stood at 90.6 per cent, and institutional deliveries at 93.4 per cent.
The state has 35 obstetric intensive care units, 109 primary referral units and 229 maternity waiting homes to serve pregnant women.
Shukla further instructed that specialist access in rural and remote areas be improved through the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform. Service gaps must be addressed, necessary equipment ensured and utilisation reviewed on a regular basis.
Between April and September 2026, the state recorded 59,914 general tele-consultations and 10,890 specialist consultations through e-Sanjeevani.
Finally, the Deputy Chief Minister called for stronger treatment facilities for newborns and critically ill children, along with improved programmes to combat malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhoea and pneumonia.