The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Center for Gender Equity, Sexual and Reproductive Health, has announced the Official Mexican Standard NOM-020-SSA-2025. The main objective of this document is to guarantee safe, dignified, and quality maternal and neonatal care, taking into account the intercultural profile of the entire country.
One of the most relevant points of this standard is the official recognition of midwifery within the National Health System, both for professional and traditional midwives, without imposing certifications and respecting their ancestral knowledge. This implies that midwives will have an active role in assistance during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
NOM-020-SSA-2025 also establishes guidelines to regulate maternal and neonatal health services in different types of health establishments, whether public, private, or social. It focuses on ensuring accessibility, quality, and a person-centered approach, including the perspective of gender and interculturality.
Moreover, this regulation strengthens the training of professional midwives, expanding their responsibilities in maternal-neonatal care, allowing them even to prescribe basic medications in the obstetric field. It also promotes coordination between midwives and hospitals to ensure continuous care and timely referral of obstetric emergency cases.
The consultation process for the creation of NOM-020-SSA-2025 involved the participation of organizations such as the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples and the National Human Rights Commission, ensuring respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and pregnant individuals. With its implementation, the aim is to strengthen respect for sexual and reproductive rights and those of newborns, ensuring dignified, safe, and respectful care throughout the country.
