Mar 14,2024
Mumbai: Emcure Pharmaceuticals recently announced its entry into the over-the-counter (OTC) market with their product Galact. The product has been prescribed by healthcare professionals for more than 20 years to boost breast milk production for lactating mothers.
Galact is enriched with the potency of Shatavari and six other herbs. Shatavari is known to enhance a baby’s weight, and sleep pattern, leading to better immunity, while a key ingredient, Yashtimadhu, helps enhance cognitive function, memory, and concentration, thereby assisting in improving a baby’s IQ, stated the company at the product launch event.
Interacting with ETPharma, Namita Thapar, Whole-time Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, shared that the product has been well received by doctors and patients, which prompted the company to go ahead and bring their product into the market. Since the product is Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved, the company didn’t require additional approvals to launch the product over-the-counter (OTC).
Thapar further mentioned that they are working on various products they intend to bring to the market, addressing women’s health in due course. She said, “My goal is across the spectrum, from womb to tomb.” She added that they want to be the trusted partner for women across her entire journey for all health conditions.
Thapar envisions foraying into the women’s health market in phases, as there are gaps that need to be addressed for women’s health. She highlighted awareness, access, and affordability as the three main factors.
She also highlighted that women’s health is overlooked due to various reasons, including the inability of women to speak about their health conditions, have open conversations on women’s health, and the taboos that surround women’s health. These are also the reasons why India is always in the bottom four or five of the World Economic Forum survey every year. This happens because women don’t prioritise their health.
Commenting on the challenges that women face while breastfeeding, Thapar mentioned that during pregnancy, more importance is given to the delivery of the child and several other milestones during the nine months. When consulting with gynaecologists and paediatricians, parents don’t discuss breastfeeding; once the child is born, the decision has to be made instantly. Women are not aware of or educated about breastfeeding, which will increase their chances of success, or there is not adequate breast milk to feed the child. There are not enough conversations happening around breastfeeding, and there is not enough information on the same.
There is a lot of misinformation and homemade concoctions for improving the quality of breast milk that don’t work. Breastfeeding is only addressed once the child is born and not during pregnancy. Thapar remarked that she is a pro-choice woman and she is not going to sermonise about breastfeeding; the decision to breastfeed solely depends on the mother.
Thapar concluded by stating that breastfeeding has several health benefits that improve a child’s immunity and IQ; mother’s milk is best for the child. In women, it reduces the chances of ovarian and breast cancer.
Source: Pharma