Kathmandu Makes Maternal Health Free for Every Expectant Mother

The Government of Nepal has announced a landmark policy offering free maternal healthcare services to all expectant mothers across the country, regardless of their socio-economic status. Services include prenatal checkups, delivery assistance, and postnatal care.

The initiative is funded by reallocating a portion of the national health budget and supplemented by international aid. Officials hope it will significantly reduce Nepal’s maternal mortality rate and improve child health outcomes.

This policy’s inclusive approach is catching the attention of Bangladeshi and Indian state health officials, who see it as a scalable model for improving maternal care across South Asia’s rural and underserved communities.