More than 70 maternal deaths are reported in Mumbai every year, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query. However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that nearly half of these cases involve women referred from neighbouring districts, including Thane, Palghar and other parts of Maharashtra, where critically ill patients are transferred to Mumbai’s tertiary care hospitals.

Health officials said that when only Mumbai residents are considered, the city’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) remains below 70 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for maternal mortality. The clarification underscores the role of Mumbai’s public hospitals as referral centres for high risk pregnancies from across the state.

According to BMC officials, tertiary hospitals in Mumbai routinely receive complicated obstetric cases requiring advanced critical care, which contributes to the city’s overall maternal death figures. Experts noted that referral based mortality data should be interpreted separately from resident based maternal health indicators to accurately assess local healthcare performance.

India has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality over the past decade. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2018–20, the country’s Maternal Mortality Ratio declined to 97 per 1,00,000 live births, while Maharashtra has consistently performed better than the national average. Continued investments in institutional deliveries, emergency obstetric care and antenatal services have contributed to this decline.

Public health experts stressed that reducing maternal deaths further will require strengthening referral systems, improving timely access to specialist care, expanding intensive maternal care units and ensuring high quality antenatal and postnatal services across districts. They added that strengthening healthcare infrastructure outside major cities can reduce delays in referral and improve maternal outcomes.

The RTI findings highlight the continuing importance of robust maternal healthcare systems while reinforcing Mumbai’s role as a major referral hub for high risk pregnancies across Maharashtra.