The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes is very clear on the issue of sponsorship: Partnering with the health care sector enables corporations to subvert the mandates of heath care professionals and institutions by buying them off with funding for programmes, research, and studies. Critical capabilities can be easily silenced when the survival of a department or research project becomes dependent on corporate sponsorships. It is extremely important that those working in the health care sector maintain their independence and learn to recognize what’s really at stake when corporate funds are being offered.

    Specifically, WHA Resolution 49.15 (2) states in its opening paragraphs,

"Concerned that health institutions and ministries may be subject to subtle pressure to accept, inappropriately, financial or other support for professional training in infant and child health; Urges member states to take the following measures: ...

(2) to ensure that the financial support for professionals working in infant and young child health does not create  conflicts of interest, especially with regard to the WHO/UNICEF Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative;

(3) to ensure that monitoring the application of the International Code and subsequent relevant resolutions is carried out in a transparent, independent manner, free from commercial influence;

This resolution has been re-affirmed in the current World Health Organization executive Board resolution EB115/7

(4), adopted January 24, 2005, which requires that,

"...financial support for professionals working in infant and young child health does not create conflicts of interest;" .