Doctors Advised to Avoid Products Breaching Infant Milk Substitutes Act

Rapid Summary

• Teh Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has warned its members against participating in events violating the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act.
• The warning follows Abbott Nutrition’s sponsorship of a national paediatric summit in Dehradun, which has faced criticism from the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI).
• BPNI filed a complaint with local police, urging an inquiry into potential IMS Act violations.
• IAP reiterated its stance against legal breaches and cautioned members to avoid engagement with companies covered under the IMS Act.
• A list of companies affected by the IMS Act includes manufacturers like Abbott Healthcare.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The issue highlights ongoing efforts to enforce the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act in India. By discouraging physicians from engaging with specific commercial interests, organizations like IAP and BPNI aim to safeguard public health, notably infant nutrition. These actions may prompt heightened scrutiny on corporate sponsorships within healthcare sectors. It also suggests that both local and multinational companies need clear guidelines to ensure compliance, perhaps affecting their business operations.

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