Activist doctor urges young doctors to lead with ethics

Visakhapatnam: Hyderabad-based pediatrician and social activist Dr Sivaranjani Santosh urged young medical professionals to lead with ethics, courage, and an unwavering commitment to public health. Speaking at GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR) Hospital, she recounted her eight-year fight against misleading sugary drinks marketed as oral rehydration salts (ORS).Dr. Sivaranjani explained that many so-called ORS products contained excessive sugar, worsening dehydration instead of treating it—especially in children. Her sustained campaign led to a landmark Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) decision banning the use of the term "ORS" on products that fail to meet WHO standards, protecting millions of children nationwide.She candidly shared the personal challenges of taking on big companies, saying public support gave her strength. Urging the younger generation to uphold ethics, she stressed that health and well-being must remain central to medical practice.Appreciating her courage, GITAM president and Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharath lauded her as an example of how medical professionals can drive meaningful social change beyond clinical practice.