Specific issues regarding replacement feeding
Q.42 What should be the criteria for health services to provide infant formula?
If the national recommendation is for HIV-infected mothers not to breastfeed, then health services may be authorised by the national authority to provide infant formula to HIV-infected mothers who would not otherwise be able to access or afford it. Each country should develop criteria that are clear to the staff who will be distributing the formula. These criteria should be in compliance with the Code. There should be no donations of formula to any part of the health care system, but it may be purchased by health authorities through regular procurement processes.
If the national recommendation is for HIV-infected mothers to breastfeed, then infant formula should only be provided when there is a medical reason for its use, as summarized in Q.41.
Governments should exercise caution that any provision of formula to HIV-infected women does not lead to spillover to the general population and creating opportunities for commercial exploitation within the HIV context.