Any type of promotion of breastmilk substitutes, bottles and teats should be completely prohibited at health care facilities, as established by the International Code of Marketing of Human Milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant resolutions of the World Health Assembly. In addition, no free or subsidized donations of breast milk substitutes or other products, gifts or samples may be given to health workers at any health system facility. Medical facilities caring for infants for whom breastfeeding is contraindicated should also not accept free or reduced-price supplies or samples of such products. WHA39.28 clearly states that preparations prescribed to infants for medical reasons should be purchased through normal channels. Information about products provided by manufacturers and vendors to health professionals should be limited to scientific and factual data.
