The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held a two-day national workshop in September 2026 to advance implementation of the SUMAN Roadmap 2030, a strategy aimed at eliminating preventable maternal and newborn deaths across India. The workshop brought together state officials, health experts and international partners to turn the roadmap’s vision into concrete action on the ground.
What the roadmap covers
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 takes a continuum-of-care approach, covering every stage of maternal health from pre-pregnancy preparation through antenatal care, delivery and postnatal support. It divides India’s response into two sections. Section A targets 13 high-focus states and 130 districts that account for a large share of maternal and newborn deaths. Section B outlines strategies for all states and union territories to meet Sustainable Development Goal targets.
The workshop discussions centred on key clinical areas including management of high-risk pregnancies, prevention of post-partum haemorrhage, optimal use of caesarean sections, and expansion of birth waiting homes. Digital health initiatives, climate change impacts on maternal health and grievance redressal mechanisms were also covered.
Resource materials launched during the workshop include new guidelines on birth waiting homes and information, education and communication material on the roadmap itself.
The 13 high-focus states presented their priorities and implementation challenges, and participants shared field innovations including post-partum haemorrhage management techniques from Odisha, chatbot services from Madhya Pradesh, and a maternal health war room model from Uttarakhand.
What this means for you
If you are a pregnant woman or planning pregnancy in a high-focus state or district, the roadmap aims to ensure you receive safe, timely and quality healthcare at every stage. The roadmap emphasises registration of newly married couples to enable planned pregnancies and earlier access to care. For health workers and state officials, this roadmap provides a structured framework to identify and plug gaps in maternal health services in their areas.