MOH urges private hospitals to commit to breastfeeding push
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – Against the backdrop of concerns over rising costs of formula milk, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will encourage all hospitals — public and private — to provide more support for breastfeeding.
The ministry hopes that all hospitals with maternity services can attain the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative certification, which actively promotes breastfeeding.
The global initiative is a tie-up between the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. It requires hospitals to show new mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, among other criteria.
Currently, the three public hospitals here with a maternity department — KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National University Hospital and Singapore General Hospital — have been certified and avoid sponsorships from formula milk companies to prevent conflict of interest.
The three hospitals handled 42 per cent of births in 2015.
Private hospitals, however, have not been certified. “We hope they’ll see that this is beneficial for their patients and will come on board to support the initiative,” said the MOH.
In its market inquiry into formula milk products, the Competition Commission of Singapore found that manufacturers had invested significantly in marketing activities, including hospital sponsorships and milk rotation programmes to gain a “first-mover” advantage.
These manufacturers paid or sponsored private hospitals, in terms of nurses’ training, educational talks and gift packs for new mothers, to join their milk rotation programmes.
The MOH said that in situations where mothers are unable to breastfeed in hospital, it will work with industry players to provide more affordable infant formula brands in the hospitals.
“Hospitals are an important touchpoint for parents, and their actions may shape the behaviour of parents. All hospitals in Singapore, both public and private, encourage and support breastfeeding and only provide infant formula when needed,” said the MOH.
