Abstract
Human milk banks (HMBs) in India have emerged as a cornerstone of public health infrastructure, providing essential nutrition to preterm, low birth weight (LBW), and medically vulnerable infants. Although India has seen a rapid expansion to over 90 operational units (often integrated as Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres), significant geographic disparities and supply-demand gaps persist. This paper evaluates the current landscape, highlighting a shift toward innovation and digitalization to ensure safety and scalability. Key advancements include the adoption of IoT-enabled cold chains, cloud-based inventory tracking, and barcoding for end-to-end traceability. Despite these strides, the sector faces systemic challenges, including inadequate recurring funding, staffing shortages, and low community awareness. We provide actionable policy recommendations, advocating for the integration of HMBs into national neonatal health strategies, standardized digital frameworks, and enhanced public-private partnerships. Ultimately, strengthening the milk bank ecosystem is vital for India to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.2) for neonatal mortality.
