Shillong, Jan 7: In a landmark achievement for maternal health, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has achieved full saturation of private maternity hospitals in Meghalaya under its flagship quality improvement and certification initiative, Manyata.
With this, Meghalaya has become the first state in the country where 100% of private maternity facilities have been certified under the Manyata initiative, marking a significant milestone in ensuring safe and quality maternal care across the region.
While India’s national maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is 88 per 100,000 live births, Meghalaya — with its challenging hilly terrain and widely dispersed population — continues to report higher maternal deaths.
From April 2023 to January 2024 alone, the state recorded around 107 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, underscoring persistent gaps in access to timely, high-quality maternal care. Institutional delivery rates in the state have also lagged behind the national average.
Given these geographical and infrastructural constraints, private maternity facilities play a crucial role in providing accessible care for women, particularly in remote districts.
Against this backdrop, FOGSI’s successful certification of all 12 private facilities under the Manyata initiative—implemented in close collaboration with the Shillong Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society—along with the upskilling of more than 230 healthcare professionals, will enable 700,000 women to access higher-quality maternal care.
Together, these efforts mark a significant step toward safer childbirth and improved maternal outcomes in the state.
Manyata is FOGSI’s quality improvement and certification initiative that acts as a stamp of quality, ensuring consistent, safe, and respectful care for mothers during and after childbirth. It promotes the adoption of 20 evidence-based clinical standards based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards of quality care in maternal health across antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods.
Dr Hema Divakar, National Convenor of FOGSI–Manyata Initiative, said, “Manyata is not just a certification—it is a movement to ensure that every mother, regardless of where she lives, receives quality and compassionate maternity care. Meghalaya’s 100% private facility coverage is a proud moment for FOGSI and a model for how collective action can transform maternal health outcomes.”
Dr Hrishikesh D. Pai, Chief Administrator of the FOGSI–Manyata Initiative, added, “Reaching this milestone in a geographically challenging state like Meghalaya demonstrates what strong collaboration and commitment can achieve. By engaging every private facility and training healthcare providers, we are making childbirth safer and more dignified for women in even the most remote corners.”
Sharing her perspective from the ground, Dr Indrani Roy, a senior obstetrician from a Manyata-certified private maternity hospital in Shillong, said, “Through the Manyata training, our team has enhanced its clinical and patient communication practices. We see the difference every day in how confidently we can manage deliveries and reassure families that their loved ones are in safe hands.”
This milestone sets a strong precedent for other states to follow, showcasing how strategic engagement of the private healthcare sector can accelerate progress toward India’s maternal health goals.
FOGSI now aims to build on this success by nurturing a culture of continuous learning and quality improvement across facilities —ensuring that every birth in Meghalaya takes place in a safer, more respectful environment.
