The data from the Family Welfare Bureau of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reveals a rise in infant and maternal deaths over the past three years, intensifying scrutiny of the city's healthcare system.
According to official data, in the past three years, infant deaths have surged from 370 in 2021-22 to 194 in 2022-23, reaching a high of 792 in 2023-24. 517 infant deaths were reported between April 2024 and February 2025.
Maternal deaths also remain a serious concern, with 103 deaths recorded in 2021-22, dipping to 90 in 2022-23 and again 89 in 2023-24. The maternal death audit committee of the PMC has reported over 70 maternal deaths between April 2024 and March 2025.
Maternal deaths are divided into three kinds of delays comprising delay 1 or delay in seeking care, delay 2 or delay in reaching a health facility and delay 3 or delay in receiving appropriate care at the facility. As per the data, out of 70 maternal deaths, delay 1 has been found in 45 cases, delay 2 in 24 cases and delay 3 in eight cases.
Despite Pune being Maharashtra’s most medically advanced city, the rising cases of mortality rate are raising serious concerns about the health care facilities.
Public health experts are calling for immediate audits and reviews. “The rising numbers are not just statistics; they represent families devastated by loss. Whether due to lack of timely intervention, referral delays, or system overload, the causes must be identified and addressed,” said a senior PMC official on condition of anonymity.
The data further reveals that, from 2021 to February 2025, Pune recorded a total of 48,489 deliveries, out of which 21,639 were normal deliveries and 26,850 C-sections. The figures indicate a drastic fall in normal deliveries, with shift towards surgical deliveries.
2021–2022: 35,957 normal and 23,817 C-sections
2022–2023: 28,004 normal and 29,103 C-sections
2023–2024: 29,101 normal and 34,672 C-sections
April 2024 to Feb 2025: 21,639 normal and 26,850 C-sections
While the city is expanding rapidly and is focusing on other areas like increased sterilisations and improved tracking of deliveries, the increasing death toll raises questions about the quality and accessibility of maternal and neonatal care facilities.
