The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy in Oxford has launched a community pharmacy-based maternal health pilot aimed at expanding prenatal services in underserved areas.
The Medications Optimizing Maternal Safety program, or MOMS, operates through the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Mississippi and provides expectant mothers with free monthly prenatal vitamins, iron supplements and low-dose aspirin, according to a March 2 news release. Pharmacy teams also conduct monthly check-ins that include screenings for nonmedical drivers of health and trimester-specific assessments.
The pilot launched in August 2025 with three pharmacies on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently serves 43 pregnant patients. The initiative is preparing to expand to 17 more pharmacies statewide.
Mississippi ranks first nationally in the percentage of individuals living in maternal healthcare deserts, at 23.6%, and has the highest infant mortality rate in the country, at 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. Both metrics prompted the Mississippi Department of Health to declare infant mortality a public health emergency in August 2025.
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