Patiala, May 13 -- Punjab's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) saw a dip for the second consecutive year, falling from 117 in 2023-24 to 111 in 2024-25, according to data from the state health department. However, it is still worse than the national average that stands at 93.

HT has accessed a copy of the data.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), MMR, a key health indicator for mothers, refers to the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in a given time period.

Officials attribute the decline to the strengthening of maternal care services and improvements of institutional deliveries across the state.

A senior health officer said, "The decline in MMR is a positive sign for the health of mothers. However, it is st...