Hyderabad: Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, a city-based paediatrician, has announced that her resignation from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has been formally accepted. She has now called upon the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to investigate the continued presence of ORSL promotional stalls at PEDICON, the annual conference of the IAP.
Resignation Accepted After Two Months
In a post on social media platform X, Dr Sivaranjani, who has been actively advocating for regulators to restrict the marketing of sugary drinks as oral rehydration solutions (ORS), stated that the acceptance of her resignation, submitted nearly two months ago, frees her from any obligation to remain restrained in criticising the academy's leadership.
She wrote, "So far, I had to show some restraint before calling the leadership out for their pathetic slavery to pharma (industry). Now, I am under no obligation to show that restraint."
Allegations of Pharma Influence
The paediatrician alleged that while the IAP was once led by ethical leaders who helped build the organisation's credibility, its leadership in recent years had prioritised pharmaceutical funding over child safety. She claimed that despite repeatedly raising concerns with the IAP leadership, no action was taken regarding ORSL's promotion at PEDICON conferences.
According to Dr Sivaranjani, the product was marketed in a manner that could lead consumers to confuse it with ORS, the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended formulation for dehydration. She also questioned why manufacturers were allowed to cite presentations at PEDICON as scientific endorsement of their products. Furthermore, she alleged that parents were not adequately informed about the routine consumption of beverages containing artificial sweeteners by children.
Legal Notices and FSSAI Action
In March, Dr Sivaranjani received legal notices after raising concerns about ORSL and its rebranded version, ERZL. Notably, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had in October 2025 prohibited the use of the term 'ORS' in the name, label, or branding of food and beverage products that do not conform to the WHO-approved ORS formulation, including the use of the term as a prefix or suffix.
IAP Defends Its Processes
Meanwhile, the IAP defended its institutional processes, asserting that all its recommendations and positions are guided by scientific evidence, ethical practices, and established governance mechanisms. Dr Ruchira Maheshwari Gupta stated that the Academy remains committed to evidence-based paediatric care and that any educational support or partnerships for scientific events do not influence its policy decisions.
"We urge stakeholders to avoid speculation. The IAP said discussions on paediatric health issues should remain balanced, evidence-driven, and within appropriate professional and regulatory frameworks, while reiterating that safeguarding child health remains its foremost priority."
