AIMS Mohali: Milestone as India's Breastfeeding-Friendly Government Hospital

Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, has set a national precedent by becoming the sole government medical college, after Command Hospital Pune, to achieve accreditation as a breastfeeding-friendly institution under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), as announced in a press release from DPRO SAS Nagar.

Director-Principal Dr Bhavneet Bharti highlighted that among the 71 nationwide accredited facilities, a significant portion, 39, are Armed Forces establishments. Telangana emerges as the frontrunner among states for government facility accreditations. Although a few private colleges have attained similar recognition, AIMS Mohali distinguishes itself as the only state-run medical college with this accreditation, conducted by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI).

Dr Arun Gupta, who oversees BPNI, has played a pivotal role in this movement, ensuring adherence to global standards during India's accreditation process. The on-site evaluation on August 5, 2025, led by Dr Rajinder Gulati and his expert team, praised AIMS Mohali for its exemplary dedication to implementing breastfeeding support initiatives.

This accomplishment also reflects the strategic vision of Dr Bhavneet Bharti, AIMS Mohali's Director Principal. She previously spearheaded Punjab's first Human Milk Bank with backing from the Rotary Club and pursued an ICMR-funded project for a human milk bank model, offering a reproducible template nationwide.

Dr Bharti emphasized that attaining this benchmark was formidable but made possible through the unwavering commitment of the local champions offering round-the-clock services for mothers and infants. The determined Breastfeeding Committee at AIMS Mohali stands as a sterling example of cooperative leadership, additionally highlighted in Dr Bharti's Women Lift Health Capstone Project, which emphasizes women's leadership in institutional health transformation.

This significant endorsement reaffirms AIMS Mohali's compliance with WHO and India's global health standards, positioning it at the forefront of the nation's breastfeeding advocacy, resonating with BPNI's visionary endeavors led by Dr Arun Gupta.