Finolex Industries Ltd (FIL), through its CSR initiative the Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), inaugurated an upgraded Human Milk Bank at Bharati Hospital and Research Centre (BHRC), Pune, reaffirming its continued focus on maternal and child well-being. The upgrade includes the installation of a modern pasteurisation unit and key milk-banking equipment, improving the availability of safe, pasteurised donor breast milk for newborns who are premature or critically ill during the crucial early stages of life.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent medical and institutional representatives such as Dr Asmita Jagtap, Executive Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth; Dr Sanjay Lalwani, Medical Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College & Hospital; Jasmin Majethia, Patron of the Thalassemia Society of Pune Chapter and a long-standing advocate for thalassemia care; and Dr Jitendra Oswal, Child Specialist. Speakers emphasized the role of long-term collaboration between industry and healthcare institutions in strengthening neonatal services and improving survival outcomes.
Under its CSR programme, Finolex Industries, along with MMF and Finolex Pipes, has contributed vital equipment to the BHRC Human Milk Bank, enhancing its ability to collect, process, store, and dispense donor human milk safely. This initiative is expected to significantly support the nutritional needs and recovery of high-risk newborns. Acknowledging the contribution, Dr Asmita Jagtap and Dr Sanjay Lalwani stated that the support demonstrates a strong commitment to maternal and child health and will create a lasting positive impact on neonatal care at the hospital.
Established in March 2022 with support from MMF and Finolex Pipes, the BHRC Human Milk Bank has already supported over 2,200 sick and vulnerable infants, distributing more than 1,500 litres of donor milk collected from nearly 1,900 mothers. With the new upgrade, the facility is well positioned to continue serving infants who cannot receive their mother’s milk, ensuring better growth, development, and survival.
Beyond BHRC, Finolex Industries and MMF support three major human milk banks in Pune—Bharati Hospital, AFMC Command Hospital, and KEM Hospital. Together, these facilities operate with a combined capacity of 9.5 litres, with Bharati Hospital contributing 3.5 litres and AFMC and KEM Hospitals 3 litres each. The enhanced BHRC facility further strengthens Pune’s overall neonatal nutrition network.
The Foundation has also played a role in improving NICU infrastructure across the city. At Sassoon Hospital, MMF developed the complete external infrastructure required for a human milk bank set up by other partners, enabling the facility to become fully operational and accessible.
Pasteurised donor human milk is widely recognized for its benefits to premature and low-birth-weight infants, including reduced infection risk, improved recovery, and healthier growth compared to formula feeding. The milk is carefully screened and pasteurised by trained medical professionals to ensure safety while retaining vital nutrients.
Commenting on the initiative, Ritu Chhabria, Managing Trustee, Mukul Madhav Foundation, said, “Donated breast milk is a powerful expression of care and solidarity between mothers. By expanding and strengthening human milk banks in Pune, we are helping ensure that fragile newborns receive the nutrition they need when they need it most. With Finolex Industries’ continued support, we remain dedicated to making quality neonatal care accessible to every child.”
Through these ongoing initiatives, Finolex Industries and the Mukul Madhav Foundation continue to contribute meaningfully to Pune’s healthcare landscape, supporting hospitals, medical professionals, and families at some of the most critical stages of early life.
