Question : Mother Milk Bank

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is any proposal pending with the Government to license the sale of human milk and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the request for licence has been received from any commercial entity and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up a mother milk bank at urban level to check malnutrition in various States and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the funds allocated by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government has established mother milk bank in various States during the last three years and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) & (b): No.

(c): The Government of India has issued guidelines to the states for setting up comprehensive lactation management centres at public health facilities to promote quality child survival and development.

(d) & (e): Health being a state subject under the National Health Mission, funds are released to States/UTs for activities proposed by them in their programme implementation plans.

MoHFW under National Health Mission has been allocated funds through Annual PIP to the State of West Bengal since FY 2011-12 for establishment and operational cost of one milk bank in Kolkata (at IPGMER, Kolkata) as a new initiative.

As per the Government of India guidelines on “Lactation Management Centres in public health facilities” there is a provision of allocation of funds to states/ UTs for establishing lactation management centres in public health facilities.