Finolex Industries Ltd. (FIL), along with its CSR arm, the Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF), today inaugurated an upgraded Human Milk Bank at Bharati Hospital and Research Centre (BHRC), Pune, reinforcing their long-standing commitment to maternal and child health. The upgrade, marked by the commissioning of a new pasteurisation machine and essential milk-banking equipment, significantly enhances access to safe, pasteurised donor breast milk for vulnerable newborns—particularly preterm and critically ill infants—during the most critical phase of early life.
The enhanced facility was inaugurated in the presence of key medical and institutional leaders, including Dr. Asmita Jagtap, Executive Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth; Dr. Sanjay Lalwani, Medical Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College & Hospital, Pune; Mrs. Jasmin Majethia, Patron of the Thalassemia Society of Pune Chapter (TSPC) and a leading advocate in the field of thalassemia for over four decades; and Dr. Jitendra Oswal, Child Specialist. The dignitaries highlighted the importance of sustained industry–healthcare partnerships in strengthening neonatal care infrastructure and improving outcomes for high-risk infants.
As part of Finolex Industries’ CSR initiative, MMF and Finolex Pipes have donated critical equipment to the Human Milk Bank at BHRC, strengthening its capacity to safely collect, process, store, and distribute donor human milk. This support will play a vital role in ensuring optimal nutrition and improving survival and recovery outcomes for preterm and critically ill newborns.
Expressing gratitude for the contribution, Dr. Asmita Jagtap and Dr. Sanjay Lalwani noted that the donation reflects the corporate partners’ deep commitment to maternal and child health and will have a lasting impact on neonatal care services at the hospital.
The Human Milk Bank at BHRC, operational since March 2022 and established with contributions from MMF and Finolex Pipes, has already benefited more than 2,200 vulnerable and sick infants, facilitating the distribution of over 1,500 litres of donor human milk collected from approximately 1,900 mothers. With the latest equipment upgrade, the facility will continue to serve as a critical lifeline for infants unable to receive their mother’s milk, supporting healthy growth, development, and survival.
Beyond Bharati Hospital, Finolex Industries and the Mukul Madhav Foundation currently support three key human milk banks in Pune—at Bharati Hospital, AFMC Command Hospital, and KEM Hospital. Together, these centres operate with a collective capacity of 9.5 litres, with Bharati Hospital managing 3.5 litres and both AFMC and KEM Hospitals operating at 3 litres each. The strengthened infrastructure at BHRC further enhances the network’s ability to meet the growing demand for specialised neonatal nutrition across the city.
In addition to milk banking initiatives, Finolex Industries and MMF have consistently invested in improving Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) environments. At Sassoon Hospital, MMF constructed the complete external infrastructure required to house a human milk bank contributed by other partners, helping make the facility fully functional and accessible to families in need.
Pasteurised donor human milk is a clinically proven intervention for low-birth-weight and premature infants. Compared with formula feeding, it significantly reduces infection risks, supports faster recovery, and promotes healthy growth and development. The milk undergoes a rigorous process of screening and pasteurisation by trained medical professionals and lactation specialists to ensure safety while preserving essential nutrients.
Speaking about the initiative, Ritu Chhabria, Managing Trustee, Mukul Madhav Foundation, said: “Every drop of donated milk represents a mother’s compassion reaching beyond her own child. By strengthening human milk banks across Pune, we are not only providing essential nutrition to premature and medically fragile infants but also offering families reassurance during an incredibly vulnerable time. With the continued support of Finolex Industries, we remain committed to ensuring that no newborn is deprived of safe, life-sustaining nourishment. Quality neonatal care should be a right, not a privilege—and together, we are building systems that uphold that belief.”
Through these sustained efforts, Finolex Industries and the Mukul Madhav Foundation continue to strengthen Pune’s healthcare ecosystem, supporting hospitals, caregivers, and families during some of the most critical moments of early life.