Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): Free Maternity & Newborn Care
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) is a Ministry of Health & Family Welfare initiative that assures dignified, respectful and quality maternal and newborn healthcare at no cost in public health facilities, with zero tolerance for denial of entitled services.
Updated: 5 September 2026
What is the SUMAN Scheme?
SUMAN was launched on 10 October 2019 to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and morbidity by assuring free, respectful and quality healthcare to women and newborns using public health facilities.
The initiative goes beyond individual benefit schemes by creating a service-assurance framework. Existing maternal and newborn health programmes continue to operate and are brought together under SUMAN so that beneficiaries can receive a more comprehensive continuum of care.
Who is Covered under SUMAN?
SUMAN primarily covers women and newborns accessing notified public health facilities, including:
- pregnant women;
- women during labour and childbirth;
- mothers during the postnatal period;
- newborn babies; and
- sick neonates and infants requiring care at public health facilities.
The original 2019 page referred specifically to pregnant women, mothers up to six months after delivery and sick newborns. Those groups remain central to the SUMAN maternal and newborn service-assurance framework.
Free Services Guaranteed under SUMAN
The SUMAN service guarantee includes, subject to the level and capability of the public health facility:
- at least four antenatal care check-ups;
- one antenatal check-up during the first trimester;
- at least one check-up under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan where applicable;
- iron and folic acid supplementation and other comprehensive ANC components;
- maternal and newborn health records, including the Mother & Child Protection Card;
- delivery by trained personnel;
- free identification and management of maternal complications;
- early initiation and support for breastfeeding;
- zero-dose vaccination for newborns;
- home-based newborn care visits;
- postpartum family-planning counselling;
- counselling and communication for safe motherhood; and
- other services available through linked maternal and newborn health programmes.
Zero-Expense Delivery and C-Section
SUMAN assures zero-expense delivery at public health facilities providing maternity services. Where a Caesarean section is medically required and the facility is equipped to perform it, the procedure is provided without charging the beneficiary for the entitled public-sector service.
If the first facility cannot safely manage a complication, SUMAN's referral framework requires appropriate transfer to a higher-level facility.
Free Transport, Emergency Referral and Drop-Back
SUMAN's service charter includes free transport from home to the health institution through the applicable public ambulance/referral system, including 102/108 services where operational.
It also provides for assured referral in critical emergencies, with the programme aiming for timely access to an appropriate higher facility, and drop-back from the institution to home after due discharge.
The official service charter refers to drop-back after a minimum institutional stay of 48 hours following delivery where applicable.
Free Newborn and Infant Care
SUMAN includes newborn and neonatal services such as:
- early breastfeeding support;
- newborn vaccination;
- home-based newborn care visits;
- identification and management of sick neonates;
- care for sick infants through the appropriate public health facility;
- referral to higher-level newborn care where required; and
- birth-registration support from healthcare facilities.
Respectful Maternity Care and Zero Denial
A central feature of SUMAN is respect for women's autonomy, dignity, feelings, choices and preferences.
The initiative requires:
- respectful care with privacy and dignity;
- zero tolerance for negligence and unjustified denial of entitled services;
- client feedback systems;
- maternal death reporting and review;
- community-level maternal death reporting; and
- grievance redressal through notified programme channels.
How SUMAN Works with JSSK, PMSMA and LaQshya
| Programme | Role within the Maternal/Newborn Care Framework |
|---|---|
| JSSK | Free and cashless maternity and infant care in Government health institutions, including eligible drugs, diagnostics, blood, diet and transport. |
| PMSMA | Focused antenatal care and specialist assessment for pregnant women on designated days. |
| LaQshya | Quality improvement in labour rooms and maternity operating theatres. |
| SUMAN | Umbrella service-assurance framework integrating maternal and newborn entitlements with zero-cost, respectful and accountable care. |
SUMAN Grievance Redressal
If an entitled SUMAN service is denied or there is a complaint regarding care, a grievance can be raised through the official SUMAN grievance mechanism.
The current official SUMAN portal provides:
- online grievance registration;
- forwarding of complaints to the concerned district CMO/SUMAN nodal officer;
- follow-up by phone or e-mail; and
- SUMAN helpdesk support.
The SUMAN portal currently displays the toll-free helpdesk number 1800-180-1104. Because public helpline arrangements can change, beneficiaries should verify the number on the official SUMAN portal before relying on it.
Key Points to Remember
- SUMAN was launched on 10 October 2019.
- It remains part of the National Health Mission maternal and newborn health framework.
- Its core principle is quality care at no cost with zero tolerance for denial of entitled services.
- Free services include antenatal care, delivery, medically indicated C-section, complication management, transport, referral and newborn care.
- Respectful maternity care, privacy and dignity are explicit service guarantees.
- SUMAN integrates programmes such as JSSK, PMSMA and LaQshya.
- Grievances can be filed through the official SUMAN grievance portal.