SUMAN in India: Respectful Maternity Care and Your Options
Learn what SUMAN promises at public health facilities, who it covers, how it relates to JSSK and how to ask for respectful care or use a local grievance route.
In this guide
What is SUMAN and whom does it cover?
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) is a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiative for assured, dignified, respectful and quality care at no cost for women and newborns using public health facilities. National Health Mission materials describe coverage for pregnant women, mothers up to six months after delivery and sick infants. It is a service-assurance framework, not a promise of a particular clinical result.
SUMAN is about how public maternity and newborn care should be delivered
The official aim includes respectful care, quality services at no cost and zero tolerance for denial at public facilities. It brings maternal and newborn initiatives together under an assurance approach. Ask the facility which local services and grievance contact apply to the care you need.
Know the difference between SUMAN, JSSK and JSY
SUMAN sets a broader service-assurance approach. JSSK lists specific free-care and transport entitlements at public facilities. JSY is a separate cash-assistance programme for eligible institutional deliveries. PMMVY is another separate maternity-benefit scheme with its own rules. One application or benefit should not be assumed to activate the others.
Local facility readiness and contacts still matter
The national framework does not tell you which service is open at a particular facility today. Ask the nearest public health centre, district hospital or ASHA which facility can provide the service, whether referral is needed and how to reach its grievance contact.
| Care needed and date | Facility and department | Service or referral explained | Grievance contact | Next appointment and safe contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How can you ask for dignified, informed care?
Ask the clinician to explain the proposed care
You can ask what a test or procedure is for, what choices are available, the main benefits and risks, what may happen if you wait, and who will provide follow-up. Ask for an interpreter or simpler explanation if needed. For urgent care, the clinical team may need to act quickly; ask for an explanation as soon as it is safe.
State your privacy and support needs
Tell staff whether you need a private conversation, an accessible space, a chosen support person or a safe way to receive results. Ask who can view your records and how a concern can be raised without discussing it in a public waiting area.
Keep a simple record of a concern
Note the date, facility, department, service requested, response and any receipt or referral number. Keep prescriptions, bills and test papers. A clear record helps the facility or district team understand what happened; it does not replace clinical care or prove a particular legal result.
If care is denied, delayed or a charge is requested
Ask for the facility’s current grievance route
Request the patient-help desk, medical superintendent’s office, SUMAN contact or facility grievance officer. Explain whether care is urgent, what service was refused or delayed, and what resolution you need. Ask for a reference number or written response.
Use the district route if the facility cannot resolve it
Ask the district health office or Chief Medical Officer’s office which authority reviews a SUMAN or maternal-health complaint in your State. Current complaint channels, telephone numbers and escalation steps can vary, so verify them with an official facility or State health department rather than relying on an old poster.
Do not let a complaint delay urgent treatment
If you or a newborn may be seriously ill, seek immediate clinical care or a referral first. For an emergency, call 112 where available. A family member or trusted supporter can help document the service concern while care continues.
SUMAN respectful maternity care: FAQs
Is SUMAN free?
The Ministry describes SUMAN as assuring quality maternal and newborn healthcare at no cost at public health facilities. Specific services are delivered under the applicable programmes and facility arrangements. If asked to pay, request an itemised explanation and the current grievance contact.
Who is covered after childbirth?
NHM materials describe mothers up to six months after delivery and sick infants within the initiative’s coverage. Ask the public facility which service and local pathway applies to the particular health need.
Does SUMAN guarantee that a requested treatment will be provided?
SUMAN sets a service-assurance and respectful-care commitment, but it cannot guarantee a particular diagnosis, treatment outcome or that every service is available at every facility. Ask the clinician about options and the referral route if a service is not available locally.
How is SUMAN different from JSSK?
SUMAN is the broader assurance framework. JSSK lists specific free maternity, infant-care and transport entitlements at public facilities. If a JSSK item is unavailable or charged, ask the facility how to raise it through the applicable SUMAN or district grievance route.
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Sources and publication record
Draft prepared 27 September 2026; medical and human Hindi editorial review pending · Sources checked .
- Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): maternal-health service assuranceNational Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram: current maternal and infant entitlementsNational Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Janani Suraksha Yojana: eligibility and institutional-delivery assistanceNational Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: eligibility, benefits, application and grievancesMinistry of Women and Child Development, Government of India
- Emergency Response Support System 112Ministry of Home Affairs