New Report Highlights Advancements in Maternal Health Across Asia

April 3, 2025 – Merck has released a new report, which examines the state of maternal health across Asia and the ongoing efforts to expand access to quality care, with support by Merck for Mothers, the company’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.

Significant strides have been made in improving maternal health across Asia Pacific, China, and Japan. Between 2000 and 2020, the maternal mortality ratio fell by more than two-thirds — a testament to sustained efforts in expanding health care access across the region. However, deep-rooted inequalities remain. Throughout Asia, women from marginalized ethnic and Indigenous communities, as well as those from low-income backgrounds, continue to face disproportionately higher risks during pregnancy, childbirth and the critical postpartum period.

To tackle the unique challenges impacting maternal health in the region, Merck for Mothers has engaged in collaborations dedicated to raising awareness of maternal mortality and enhancing health care provider training to improve outcomes, especially among women who face the greatest risk. Through 30 programs across 11 markets, Merck for Mothers has reached 11.9 million women and trained 75,000 health care providers across Asia. A significant focus of these efforts has been concentrated in India, which has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the world.

“Accelerating global progress in maternal health requires a multifaceted evidence-based approach—strengthening health systems, advancing community-driven solutions, and scaling innovation,” said Pompy Sridhar, Director of India Programs, Merck for Mothers. “By engaging with local stakeholders to implement tailored interventions, our efforts across Asia are driving lasting systemic change that not only enhances maternal health care but also strengthens the resilience of health systems for the future.”

This report highlights a diverse range of organizations, supported by Merck for Mothers, that are working to deliver life-saving information on healthy behaviors and risk management during pregnancy. It also underscores the company’s commitment to enabling quality maternal health care worldwide by expanding maternal health services, strengthening standards for maternity care and enhancing the knowledge and skills of health care providers and midwives. Through these efforts, Merck is driving meaningful progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal on maternal mortality reduction, ensuring more women have access to the care they need for safer pregnancies and healthier outcomes.

To learn more about Merck for Mothers, its regional programming and its approach to improving maternal health, read the full report here.