TMC Doctors Oppose Amendments to the Milk Code

Premier health institution The Medical City joins the country’s largest organizations of medical professionals in opposing the passing into law of the consolidated House Bill on breastfeeding that seeks to amend the Milk Code and the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.

The Philippine Milk Code or Executive Order 51 was signed into law by the late President Corazon C. Aquino in 1986 as facilitated by then Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo R.A. Bengzon who is now the President and CEO of The Medic al City (TMC).

TMC, being a staunch advocate of breastfeeding, recently celebrated Breastfeeding Week 2012 with a commitment to further promote, protect and support breastfeeding. The celebration was a project of the Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Breastfeeding Council and the Center for Patient Partnership.

During the celebration, three clinicians from TMC who also head their respective medical associations bared their opposition to the breastfeeding and Milk Regulation Act, a bill currently pending in one of the technical working groups in the House of Representatives.

The three TMC doctors are Dr. Mary Jean R. Villa-Real Guno, president of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Inc.; Dr. Florianne Feliza F. Valdes, president of the Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Inc. and Dr. Cristina C. Bernardo, chair of the Committee on Breastfeeding of the Philippine Pediatric Society, Inc.

Drs. Guno, Valdes, and Bernardo are signatories to the Position Statement on the Consolidated House Bill on Breastfeeding. The Department of Pediatrics through its chairman, Dr. Romeo Santos, has also signified its intention to be part of the signatories. The statement was signed by heads and representatives of more than 20 medical organizations who have expressed their dissent over attempts to substantively amend the existing breastfeeding-related laws, Milk Code and the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, which are being successfully implemented.

The passing of the Milk Code in 1986 was at that time the country’s boldest move to catch up with international standards in breastfeeding and in protecting the health and development of both mothers and infants. The Milk Code encourages mothers to breastfeed their babies from age 0 to 36 months. It likewise prohibited advertising practices that enticed mothers to choose artificial milk products such as infant formula over their own breast milk. RA 10028 or "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009" was promulgated in 2009 which provides for the necessary support services to enable breastfeeding mothers to combine family obligations with work responsibilities. RA 10028 includes the establishment of lactation stations in workplaces, provision of breastfeeding breaks for working breastfeeding mothers and establishment of human milk banks in health institutions.

The consolidated bill on breastfeeding which is being contested would narrow down the application of the Milk Code only to artificial feeding products for the age group of 0 to 6 months instead of the current 0 to 36 months; lift all restrictions on donations of breast milk substitutes at the time of emergencies; make lactation breaks for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace unpaid; allow distribution of samples of breast milk substitutes in the health care system and allow milk formula companies to conduct and be involved in the promotion, education and production of educational activities and materials related to breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding.

The position statement calls on members of the House of Representatives to rethink their proposal and be co-advocates in the promotion of good health for infants and young Filipino children. The bill, if passed into law, would drastically negate the medical progress achieved through breastfeeding.

Throughout the country, breastfeeding rates rose from 36 percent in 2008 to 47 percent in 2011 according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. At TMC, Dr. Bernardo said breastfeeding rates are up even reaching 100 percent in March 2012 from 75 percent in August 2011. In February 2012, TMC was awarded a Certificate of Commitment as a Baby Friendly Hospital by the Department of Health. For only a year of preparation, TMC obtained a Baby Friendly Hospital status. The awarding coincided with the formal launch of TMC Lactation Center aimed at providing education and support to mothers before birth and throughout their breastfeeding journey.

The Lactation Center is headed by Dr. Bernardo who is a Certified Lactation Specialist and the coordinator of TMC’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Among the Center’s primary goals are to provide a positive breastfeeding experience for mother and baby, promote healthier babies and mothers, and encourage more mothers to breastfeed.