Tamil Nadu's Maternal Mortality Ratio Drops to Second-Lowest in India

As of September 2025, Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in improving maternal health, with its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) dropping to the second-lowest in the country. The state's MMR has fallen from 38 per 100,000 live births during 2020-2022 to 35 during 2021-2023, according to the latest Sample Registration System's 'Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India'.

This achievement places Tamil Nadu behind only Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, both of which have an MMR of 30. The country's overall MMR stands at 88. The state's Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, A. Somasundaram, attributes this progress to "sustained efforts and new initiatives" that have helped Tamil Nadu steadily reduce its maternal mortality.

Moving forward, the focus is on "taking it forward as maternal health, instead of maternal death," with a emphasis on planning the place of delivery for women at risk and ensuring that no deliveries take place at home. The state is also intensifying the tracking of every pregnant woman and training its health workers to provide comprehensive care.

While the state's accomplishment is remarkable, former Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, K. Kolandasamy, highlights the need to address inequities in access to maternal and child health services, particularly in underserved districts and remote areas. Recruiting specialists and increasing the strength of staff nurses in Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care centres are among the key recommendations to further reduce the MMR.