In Hyderabad, 92-year-old gynaecologist Dr Suri Srimathi continues to serve patients after more than six decades in medicine, having helped deliver over two lakh babies during her career. Her lifelong commitment to maternal healthcare was shaped by a tragic case decades ago, when a pregnant woman travelled nearly 12 kilometres by bullock cart for treatment but died along with her unborn child due to delayed access to medical care.
Determined to prevent such losses, Dr Srimathi devoted her life to improving maternal and foetal health across government hospitals and private practice. Even today, she begins her mornings reviewing patient updates and advising on treatments, reflecting both India’s progress in maternal healthcare and the enduring challenges faced by expectant mothers in accessing timely care.
A Lifetime Devoted To Safe Motherhood
For thousands of families across Hyderabad and beyond, there is a quiet but remarkable connection: many of them entered the world under the care of the same doctor. Dr Suri Srimathi’s career spans more than 60 years, during which she has assisted in the birth of over two lakh children an extraordinary legacy that stretches across multiple generations. According to recent reports, she still begins her day around 8:30 am, reviewing patient updates and planning treatments with the same discipline she followed decades ago.
Her medical journey began in an era when women doctors were rare and often discouraged from entering the profession. Social attitudes at the time viewed medical training particularly anatomy lessons involving cadavers as inappropriate for women.
Dr Srimathi and her family faced criticism and even social boycott for her decision to pursue medicine. Yet she persevered, eventually becoming a respected obstetrician and gynaecologist whose work would touch countless lives.
Over the years, she served in several prominent government institutions, including Osmania Medical College, Gandhi Medical College, Government Maternity Hospital, Niloufer Hospital, Sagarlal Memorial Hospital, and Bapuji Hospital. After nearly 35 years of service in public hospitals, she retired from government service but did not step away from medicine. Instead, in 1999, she established a home clinic where she continues to consult patients even in her nineties.
Despite major technological advances in obstetrics from improved prenatal diagnostics to safer surgical procedures Dr Srimathi often reflects that the essence of her profession has remained unchanged. For her, the joy of safely delivering a baby continues to be the most fulfilling moment in medicine. Each successful delivery represents not only a clinical achievement but also the beginning of a new family story.
India’s Maternal Health Transformation Witness
Dr Srimathi’s long career has also given her a rare vantage point to observe how childbirth and maternal healthcare in India have evolved over the decades. When she began practising in the 1950s and 1960s, child marriage was widespread and teenage pregnancies were common. Many expectant mothers had limited awareness of prenatal care, and healthcare facilities were often far away especially in rural areas.
One particular incident from those early years left a lasting impression on the young doctor. A pregnant woman once travelled 12 kilometres on a bullock cart to reach medical help. By the time she arrived, it was too late; both the mother and her unborn child could not be saved. The tragedy underscored the harsh reality that childbirth was not simply a medical event for many women it was a matter of survival. That moment strengthened Dr Srimathi’s determination to work toward safer and more accessible maternal healthcare.
Over time, she has witnessed dramatic changes in the field. Legal reforms and growing awareness have helped reduce child marriages, allowing women greater autonomy over when and how they choose to start families. Improvements in healthcare infrastructure, better prenatal screening, and trained healthcare workers have also transformed maternal care in India. National health data indicates that the country’s maternal mortality ratio has declined significantly in recent years, while infant mortality rates have also shown steady improvement.
Dr Srimathi has often credited grassroots healthcare workers for this progress. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives have played a crucial role in connecting rural communities with healthcare services, ensuring that pregnant women receive timely check-ups and guidance. Their efforts, combined with improved hospital infrastructure and medical training, have contributed to safer pregnancies and deliveries across the country.
At the same time, she has also observed emerging trends in modern obstetrics, including a steady rise in caesarean deliveries. Medical studies suggest that nearly one in five births in India now takes place through C-section procedures, reflecting changing medical practices as well as patient preferences and risk management strategies in hospitals.
Even after decades in the field, Dr Srimathi’s approach remains rooted in empathy and responsibility. For her, the true measure of progress is not just statistics or technological advancements, but the growing number of mothers who return home safely with their newborns.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The story of Dr Suri Srimathi is a powerful reminder that healthcare is ultimately built on compassion, commitment, and human connection. While hospitals, technologies, and policies are essential, it is the dedication of individuals like her that truly transforms systems and saves lives.
Yet, her story also reminds us that the work is far from complete. Across India, many expectant mothers still struggle with limited healthcare access, especially in rural and underserved communities. Ensuring safe motherhood requires sustained investments in public health systems, stronger support for frontline workers, and continuous efforts to bridge gaps in access and awareness.
