New Delhi: Ferring Pharmaceuticals and the Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India today launched a new call to action, ‘For Every Mother in India’, at the Embassy of Switzerland in India. ‘For Every Mother in India’ aims to mobilise a wide set of stakeholders across India, including policy makers, government agencies, development partners, academia, medical experts and civil society, in a collective push to end preventable maternal deaths. It forms part of Ferring’s #ProjectFamily: Safe Birth commitment to protect the lives of 20 million women and their families globally by 2030 through sustainable access to room temperature stable (RTS) carbetocin – a treatment used to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth, or postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) – a leading cause of maternal deaths.

Speaking about the launch, Dr. Olivier Fink, Minister, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland to India and Bhutan, said, “Sustainable healthcare is a strategic objective of Switzerland’s Foreign Health Policy. My country is committed to sustainable national health systems and better healthcare worldwide. In this context, we are pleased to support in India the maternal health initiative of a Swiss company like Ferring.”

Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg of Denmark, and Board Member of Ferring, said, “We believe everyone going through childbirth should have access to quality care and treatment to help them build their family. India is an incredible success story of safe birth, driven through effective multi-stakeholder cooperation – as showcased with the ‘For Every Mother in India’ coalition. I am confident that India can achieve the UN 2030 Maternal Mortality Ratio goals if we continue to collaborate and unite ‘For Every Mother in India’.”

To mark the launch of the ‘For Every Mother in India’ call to action, winners of the #ProjectFamily: Safe Birth art competition for students at the Sir JJ School of Art were announced. Students were invited to create artwork depicting mothers, families and healthcare professionals who help build families, while highlighting the importance of safe birth. Art was chosen as a medium to convey the importance of maternal health and safe birth, as it is universal.

In July 2021, women in India were the first in the world to receive Ferring’s room temperature stable (RTS) carbetocin formulation to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth (PPH). Ferring and key partners are working to secure additional registrations, and to bring Carbetocin RTS to the public health sector of all low- and lower-middle income countries, where the burden of maternal mortality and cases of PPH are greatest.

According to the Registrar General of India report, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has declined by 10 points, from 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19. The country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in the MMR from 130 in 2014-2016, 122 in 2015-17, 113 in 2016-18, and to 103 in 2017-19. However, MMR in 448 of India’s 640 districts is higher than the SDG 3.1: ‘By 2030, reduce the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births’, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) Guidelines[i].

Per Falk, President of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, noted, “While 7 states in India have reduced their maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births and 11 states have maternal mortality rates of less than 100 per 100,000 births, it is disheartening to see that every hour, 4 women die giving birth. At Ferring, we are working with partners to enable every state in India to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 and prevent these often avoidable deaths.”

The event was graced by the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg of Denmark and Board Member of Ferring, Dr. Olivier Fink, Minister, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland to India and Bhutan, Dr. S. Shantha Kumari, President of FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India), Dr. Bulbul Sood, Senior Regional Strategic Advisor, Jhpiego, Professor Vishwanath Sabale, Dean of the Sir JJ School of Art and Per Falk, President of Ferring Pharmaceuticals.