Union Minister Nadda to Release SUMAN Roadmap 2030 at 16th Central Council of Health and Family Welfare Conference
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New Delhi, June 29: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is set to unveil the SUMAN Roadmap 2030, a landmark national strategy aimed at transforming maternal and newborn healthcare in India. The roadmap will be released during the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) and is expected to play a crucial role in helping India achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to maternal and child health by 2030.
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 is a comprehensive and evidence-based framework that focuses on reducing maternal mortality and newborn deaths through targeted interventions, improved healthcare infrastructure, better monitoring of high-risk pregnancies, and stronger community participation. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that every pregnant woman and newborn receives quality healthcare services regardless of their geographical location.
SUMAN Roadmap 2030 Aims to Improve Maternal and Newborn Healthcare
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 has been developed in response to the challenges that continue to affect maternal and newborn health despite India’s significant progress over the past decade. Although the country has achieved notable reductions in maternal mortality, many high-focus states continue to face healthcare gaps, especially in rural, tribal, and hard-to-reach regions.
Unlike traditional one-size-fits-all health programmes, the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 adopts a customized approach. It recommends differentiated strategies based on the unique healthcare requirements of individual states and districts. This targeted planning is expected to improve healthcare delivery while addressing regional disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.
Focus on 130 Districts Across 13 High-Priority States
One of the most significant features of the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 is its targeted implementation across 130 districts in 13 high-focus states. These include Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
These districts have been identified based on maternal and newborn health indicators, allowing healthcare authorities to prioritize resources where they are needed most. The roadmap also outlines strategies for all other states and Union Territories to sustain existing progress and strengthen healthcare systems nationwide.
Life-Cycle Approach to Maternal Healthcare
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 introduces a life-cycle approach that integrates healthcare services across every stage of motherhood. The roadmap includes interventions covering:
- Pre-pregnancy healthcare
- Antenatal care
- Safe delivery and intrapartum care
- Postnatal healthcare
- Newborn care
The strategy also integrates maternal healthcare with child health, adolescent health, nutrition, and family planning under the RMNCHA+N framework. This integrated healthcare model aims to improve service delivery while ensuring continuity of care throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
Four-Stage Framework for High-Risk Pregnancies
A major highlight of the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 is its structured four-stage framework for identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies.
The roadmap proposes monitoring women during:
- Antenatal high-risk pregnancy
- Third-trimester high-risk pregnancy
- Intrapartum high-risk pregnancy
- Postnatal high-risk motherhood
This comprehensive monitoring system is designed to identify complications early, improve referral systems, and ensure timely medical intervention, ultimately reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 also emphasizes strengthening healthcare infrastructure across underserved regions. The roadmap recommends establishing:
- Birth Waiting Homes (BWHs)
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wings
- Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs)
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs)
These facilities will significantly improve emergency obstetric care, particularly in remote and tribal areas where access to specialized healthcare remains limited.
Community Participation at the Core of SUMAN Roadmap 2030
Community involvement forms a central pillar of the SUMAN Roadmap 2030. The government plans to promote initiatives such as SUMAN Panchayats, encouraging local communities to actively participate in achieving:
- Zero maternal deaths
- Zero infant deaths
- Universal antenatal care
- Institutional deliveries
- Complete immunization
The roadmap also introduces Mothers’ Picnic, an innovative awareness platform designed to educate expectant mothers and families about nutrition, safe pregnancy practices, institutional deliveries, and newborn care.
Financial and Transportation Support for Mothers
Recognizing the challenges faced by pregnant women in accessing healthcare facilities, the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 proposes financial assistance for designated caregivers accompanying mothers during the critical postnatal period.
Additionally, the roadmap focuses on strengthening emergency referral transport systems to ensure pregnant women receive timely medical care during obstetric emergencies, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
Community-level interventions will also include bi-weekly home visits by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) during the eighth and ninth months of pregnancy. These visits will focus on identifying danger signs, providing nutrition counselling, promoting birth preparedness, and encouraging institutional deliveries.
Nutrition and Pre-Pregnancy Care Receive Major Attention
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 also prioritizes maternal nutrition and pre-pregnancy health. It recommends institutionalizing folic acid supplementation for women planning pregnancy while introducing comprehensive nutrition programmes to combat maternal anaemia and undernutrition.
The roadmap further strengthens tracking systems for high-risk mothers throughout pregnancy and after childbirth, ensuring continuous healthcare support.
Government’s Vision for SDG 2030
The launch of the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 reflects the Government of India’s long-term commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing maternal mortality and newborn deaths before 2030.
Health experts believe the roadmap’s evidence-based planning, targeted interventions, improved healthcare infrastructure, and community-driven approach can significantly enhance maternal and newborn healthcare outcomes across India.
With Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda unveiling the initiative at the 16th Central Council of Health and Family Welfare Conference, the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 is expected to become one of India’s most important public health strategies aimed at ensuring safer pregnancies, healthier newborns, and stronger healthcare systems nationwide.
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