Pune: Finolex Industries Ltd. (FIL), through its CSR arm Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), has inaugurated an upgraded Human Milk Bank Pune facility at Bharati Hospital and Research Centre (BHRC), further strengthening neonatal healthcare support for vulnerable newborns.
The upgrade includes the commissioning of a new pasteurisation machine along with essential milk-banking equipment, enhancing access to safe, pasteurised donor human milk for preterm and critically ill infants during the most critical stages of early life.
Human Milk Bank Pune Receives Advanced Equipment to Enhance Neonatal Care
The upgraded Human Milk Bank Pune facility was inaugurated in the presence of senior medical and institutional leaders, including Dr Asmita Jagtap, Executive Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth; Dr Sanjay Lalwani, Medical Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College & Hospital, Pune; Jasmin Majethia, Patron, Thalassemia Society of Pune Chapter; and Dr Jitendra Oswal, Child Specialist.
The dignitaries underscored the role of sustained industry – healthcare collaboration in strengthening neonatal care infrastructure and improving outcomes for high-risk infants.
As part of Finolex Industries’ CSR initiatives, MMF and Finolex Pipes donated critical equipment to the Human Milk Bank Pune facility at BHRC, enabling the safe collection, processing, storage, and distribution of donor human milk.
This initiative is expected to significantly support optimal nutrition and recovery for premature and critically ill newborns.
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Dr Asmita Jagtap and Dr Sanjay Lalwani expressed their appreciation for the contribution, noting that the support reflects a strong commitment to maternal and child health and will create a lasting impact on neonatal services at Bharati Hospital.
Human Milk Bank Pune: Supported Over 2,200 Vulnerable and Sick Infants
Operational since March 2022, the Human Milk Bank Pune at BHRC – established with contributions from Mukul Madhav Foundation and Finolex Pipes – has already supported over 2,200 vulnerable and sick infants.
The human milk bank Pune facility has enabled the distribution of more than 1,500 litres of donor human milk collected from approximately 1,900 mothers. With the latest upgrade, the milk bank is positioned to continue serving as a vital resource for infants unable to receive their mother’s milk.
Beyond Bharati Hospital, Finolex Industries and Mukul Madhav Foundation support three major human milk banks in Pune, located at Bharati Hospital, AFMC Command Hospital, and KEM Hospital.
Collectively, these centres operate with a capacity of 9.5 litres, with Bharati Hospital managing 3.5 litres and both AFMC and KEM Hospitals operating at 3 litres each.
The enhanced infrastructure at BHRC further strengthens the city-wide network addressing the growing demand for specialised neonatal nutrition.
In addition to milk banking, Finolex Industries and MMF have consistently invested in improving Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environments.
At Sassoon Hospital, MMF developed the complete external infrastructure required to house a human milk bank contributed by other partners, helping make the facility fully operational and accessible to families in need.
Pasteurised donor human milk is a clinically proven intervention for low-birth-weight and premature infants, offering reduced infection risks and supporting healthier growth and recovery compared to formula feeding.
The milk undergoes rigorous screening and pasteurisation by trained medical professionals and lactation specialists to ensure safety while retaining essential nutrients.
Commenting on the initiative, Ritu Chhabria, Managing Trustee, Mukul Madhav Foundation, said that strengthening human milk banks ensures essential nutrition for medically fragile infants while offering reassurance to families during vulnerable periods.
She reiterated the Foundation’s commitment, with the continued support of Finolex Industries, to ensuring equitable access to quality neonatal care.
Through these sustained efforts, Finolex Industries and the Mukul Madhav Foundation continue to reinforce Pune’s healthcare ecosystem, supporting hospitals, caregivers, and families at critical moments in early life.
