In its guidelines released on Wednesday, 27 May, the health ministry of India asserted the need for the constant provision of essential services related to reproductive, maternal newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) during and post the COVID-19 pandemic.
While these services had been deemed ‘essential’ in mid-April itself, the new guidelines reiterate that ‘it is important to ensure the availability of these services during this period as any denial can have an impact on maternal and newborn mortalities, morbidities as well as the health care costs’.