Rajasthan launches 'Prasav Sakhi' system for high-risk pregnancies
Synopsis
Rajasthan is deploying trained female health companions — called Prasav Sakhis — to accompany every high-risk pregnant woman through the full hospital journey, from admission to discharge. The system integrates with the 104 Janani Express ambulance network and round-the-clock help desks, marking a structural shift in how the state addresses maternal and postpartum deaths.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan government is launching a 'Prasav Sakhi' (Birthing Companion) system for high-risk pregnant women in government hospitals.
Each patient will be assigned a trained nursing staff member, ANM, or female health worker identifiable by a pink apron .
Dedicated 24x7 Maternal and Child Health Help Desks will be set up in every designated hospital.
The programme will be rolled out in phases across medical college hospitals, district hospitals, and FRUs with high delivery volumes.
The system will be integrated with the 104 Janani Express ambulance service to ensure end-to-end coordinated care.
The initiative is being implemented under the directives of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma .
The Rajasthan government is set to introduce a dedicated 'Prasav Sakhi' (Birthing Companion) system in state-run hospitals, aimed at reducing maternal deaths and improving coordinated care for high-risk pregnant women. The initiative, announced on 22 July from Jaipur, comes in direct response to deaths of women attributed to postpartum complications.
What the Prasav Sakhi System Entails
Under the new framework, every high-risk pregnant woman admitted to a designated government hospital will be assigned a dedicated Prasav Sakhi — a trained nursing staff member, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), or another designated female health worker. Identifiable by their distinctive pink aprons, these companions will accompany patients through every stage of their hospital journey: from admission and registration through delivery, postnatal care, and discharge.
The Prasav Sakhis will assist women with hospital registration, diagnostic tests, specialist referrals, consultations, and other medical procedures, ensuring timely and coordinated care at each step.
Help Desks and Round-the-Clock Support
Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore said that dedicated 24x7 Maternal and Child Health Help Desks will be established in every designated hospital to serve as the primary point of contact for pregnant women and their families. Prasav Sakhis stationed at these desks will guide patients and attendants through available services, diagnostic procedures, and treatment pathways.
Phased Rollout Across the State
According to guidelines issued by the Medical and Health Department, the programme will be rolled out in phases across medical college-affiliated hospitals, district hospitals, and First Referral Units (FRUs) with high delivery volumes. The initiative has been launched under the directives of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, with the stated goal of making maternal and child health services more patient-centric, responsive, and respectful.
Integration with Janani Express and Transport Network
The state government also plans to integrate the 104 Janani Express ambulance service, the Maternal and Child Health Help Desk, and the Prasav Sakhi system into a single coordinated network. This integrated mechanism is designed to ensure safe transportation of high-risk pregnant women from their homes to healthcare facilities, with priority given to such patients in transportation, admission, and medical care throughout their treatment.
Why This Initiative Matters
India continues to grapple with maternal mortality, and Rajasthan — one of the country's more populous states — has historically faced challenges in rural and peri-urban maternal healthcare delivery. This initiative represents a structural shift from passive facility-based care to active, accompanied support. Notably, the focus on high-risk pregnancies and postpartum challenges addresses a gap that standard antenatal programmes have often left unattended. Whether the phased rollout reaches the most underserved FRUs will be the critical test of its real-world impact.
Point of View
Personalised support for women navigating complex hospital systems during high-risk pregnancies. But companion-based models succeed only when staffing ratios are sustainable — assigning an ANM to shadow each high-risk patient in an already understaffed district hospital is a structural challenge the guidelines do not yet resolve. The integration with Janani Express is the scheme's strongest element; transport delays remain a leading proximate cause of maternal deaths in Rajasthan. The real measure of success will be whether the programme reaches FRUs in the state's more remote districts, or whether it stays concentrated in better-resourced medical college hospitals where maternal outcomes are already relatively stronger.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Prasav Sakhi' system launched by the Rajasthan government?
The Prasav Sakhi (Birthing Companion) system assigns a trained female health worker — a nursing staff member, ANM, or designated worker — to every high-risk pregnant woman admitted to a designated government hospital in Rajasthan. The companion accompanies the patient from admission through delivery, postnatal care, and discharge, ensuring coordinated and timely care.
Which hospitals will implement the Prasav Sakhi programme?
The programme will be rolled out in phases across medical college-affiliated hospitals, district hospitals, and First Referral Units (FRUs) with high delivery volumes across Rajasthan, according to guidelines issued by the state's Medical and Health Department.
How will Prasav Sakhis be identified in hospitals?
Prasav Sakhis will wear distinctive pink aprons, making them easily identifiable to patients and their families throughout the hospital.
What is the 104 Janani Express and how does it connect to this scheme?
The 104 Janani Express is Rajasthan's ambulance service for pregnant women. The state plans to integrate it with the Prasav Sakhi system and Maternal and Child Health Help Desks into a single coordinated network, ensuring safe transport from home to hospital and uninterrupted support during treatment. High-risk patients will receive priority in transportation, admission, and care.
Why was the Prasav Sakhi initiative launched?
The initiative was launched in response to deaths of women due to postpartum complications. It aims to make maternal and child health services more patient-centric, responsive, and respectful, under directives from Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
