'Enough is enough': Amid ORS row, Hyderabad paediatrician quits IAP over lack of support

HYDERABAD: City-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, who raised concerns over sugar-rich drinks such as ORSL being marketed as oral rehydration solutions (ORS), has resigned from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP).

Dr Santosh cited lack of support from the organisation after she received legal notices from pharmaceutical companies over her remarks on certain oral rehydration products.

Following her opposition, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the use of the ‘ORS' label on beverages — including ORS that did not meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards — in Oct last year. The regulator deemed such branding to be misleading and a potential health risk, as many products contained excessive amounts of sugar compared to genuine medical ORS.

The manufacturer later launched a rebranded version, ERZL, which Santosh also opposed, saying it closely resembled ORS and could mislead parents.

Speaking to TOI after her resignation, Santosh said she was disheartened that the IAP did not support her when the manufacturer issued her with a legal notice. "Enough is enough. This was the last nail in the coffin. I cannot take this toxicity any more. If I have to choose between children and the IAP, I will choose the children," she said.

While hailing the IAP as a "great organisation", Santosh said it was unfortunate that the leadership had decided not to condemn the legal notice.

"The IAP did not even condemn the notice issued to me, instead released a statement that emphasised the safety of sucralose and gave no warning to parents about its prolonged use," said the doctor. "So many paediatricians have asked the IAP leadership to at least listen to me, and voted in favour of asking the company concerned to rebrand its ERZL so that it doesn't resemble ORS, but the leadership didn't pay heed."

Earlier this month, the IAP released a statement saying that commercial electrolyte drinks cannot replace ORS for treating diarrhoea, urging consumers to use them cautiously.


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