The Union Health Ministry has taken exception to the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), the apex body of obstetricians and gynecologists, bid to hold a string of webinars under the sponsorship of a global food major, Danone, terming it the violation of Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act (known as IMS Act) .
The move followed a complaint by NGO Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) which accused the association of violating the IMS Act provisions as four of its webinars were held by the major food company. The IMS Act protects, promotes and supports breastfeeding in India.
In a recent letter to the FOGSI, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that such an act was a violation of the “The Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods (Regulation of Production, Supply & Distribution) Act 1992, and Amendment Act 2003” (lMS Act) wherein an offense committed is cognizable.
“It is clearly stated under section 9(2) of the IMS Act that “no producer, supplier or distributor referred to in sub-section (l), shall offer or give any contribution or
pecuniary benefit to a health worker or any association of health workers, including funding of seminar, meeting, conferences,
educational course, contest, fellowship, research work or sponsorship,” pointed out the official.
In this regard, said Bhushan to the FOGSI “you are requested to clarify the reason behind organizing such webinars which appear to be directly violating the IMS Act provisions. You are also requested to take prompt and necessary action to comply with the provisions of the IMS Act and to ensure that such incidences never take place in future.”
Last year, following a complaint by the BPNI, the Union Health Ministry had alerted the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to “examine the matter regarding violation of the IMS Act by sponsoring research in five Indian hospitals.”
Following the complaint, ICMR constituted a probe panel, which concluded that Nestle’s sponsorship violated the law. The five-hospital study was immediately terminated and the committee recommended prosecution of the violators (the researchers and the company).