Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, has received the Breastfeeding-Friendly Hospital Accreditation (BFHI) under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, becoming the first state government medical college in the country to achieve this recognition.
Until now, Command Hospital, Pune, was the only government hospital in India with BFHI accreditation. With this recognition, AIMS Mohali joins 71 accredited facilities nationwide, 39 of which belong to the Armed Forces. Telangana currently leads among states in accrediting government hospitals.
The assessment was conducted by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), the national body authorized for BFHI certification. The evaluation, which included an on-site inspection on August 5, 2025, was led by Dr Rajinder Gulati, MD, FIAP, lactation consultant and former president of the Human Milk Bank Association of India. The team commended the institute for implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding across its services.
Director-Principal Prof (Dr) Bhavneet Bharti said the accreditation reflects the efforts of the hospital’s breastfeeding committee and support staff. Dr Bharti has earlier spearheaded initiatives such as the establishment of Punjab’s first human milk bank, the Ashneer Milk Bank, and secured ICMR funding for a hub-and-spoke model for milk banks in India.
The accreditation aligns with WHO and Government of India guidelines for maternal and child health and is expected to encourage more state-run institutions to adopt global breastfeeding standards.
