This document monitors the use of the WHO name and logo in medicine promotion in India. It provides a table comparing different oral rehydration salt products sold in India, including their company, weight, contents, and any claims made referencing WHO recommendations. Several products prominently display the WHO logo and claim their product is based on or corresponds to the WHO recommended formula, despite the WHO name or logo sometimes not being readable in the branding. This raises concerns about the appropriate use of WHO branding in private product promotion.

1. MONITORING USE OF
WHO NAME AND LOGO
IN MEDICINE PROMOTION
IN INDIA
DR. VIJAY THAWANI
Associate Professor in Pharmacology
Government Medical College, Nagpur, India

6. Product Name Company Weight Contents in g Claims
(Price)
Oral Rehydration Salts- Micron 27.9 g Sod. Chloride WHO formula
Citrate I.P. Pharmaceuticals, (No 3.5
(For Mah Govt.) Vapi price) Pot. Chloride
1.5
Oral Rehydration Salts Maan 28.5 g Sod. Citrate WHO recommended
IP Pharmaceuticals (7.50) 2.9 formula
NEOTRAL Ltd, Dext. Anhy.
New Orange Flavour Mehsana 20
Oral Rehydration Salts- Unichem 28.5 g Dissolve in 1 WHO / UNICEF
Citrate I.P. Laboratories Ltd, (Not Ltr recommended ORS
EMLYTE Mumbai readable formula
Oral Rehydration Salts FDC Limited, 21.80 g Sod.Chl. I.P. Based on W.H.O.
I.P. Aurangabad (11.50) 2.60 Formula
ELECTRAL Pot. Chl. I.P. (WHO very bold font)
1.50
Oral Rehydration Salts FDC Limited, 21.80 g Sod Cit. I.P. - Based on W.H.O.
IP Aurangabad (11.20) 2.90 Formula (WHO bold)
PUNARJAL Dext.Anhy. -WHO ORS logo in
13.50 which “recommended”
not readable
Dissolve in 1
Oral Rehydration Salts Merck Limited, 21 g -New WHO
Ltr
IP Aurangabad (13.80) recommended
ELECTROBION formula (written twice)
Refreshing Orange (recommended NR)
flavour - WHO ORS logo

7. Reduced Wallace 4.2 g Sod. Chloride - Logo WHO ORS
Osmolarity Pharmaceu ( 3.70) 0.52 (recommended not
Oral ticals Pvt Pot. Chloride readable)
Rehydration Ltd, 0.30
salts IP Goa. Sod. Citrate
WALYTE 0.58
Orange Dext Anhyd
flavour 2.70
Oral Shreya Life 21 g Dissolve in -This product
Rehydration Sciences 15.75 for 200ml corresponds to the
Salts IP Pvt Ltd, 5 formulation
RELYTE Mumbai sachets recommended by
of 4.2 g WHO and UNICEF
(each -Logo of WHO
3.15) recommended ORS
Oral Universal 5.9 g Sod.Chloride WHO and UNICEF
Rehydration Medicamen (Sample) 0.70 recommended
Salts IP 5.9 t Pvt Ltd, Pot.Chloride formula

8. ORS Claims
• WHO formula
• WHO recommended formula
• WHO / UNICEF recommended formula
• New WHO recommended formula
• Based on WHO Formula
• This product corresponds to the formulation
recommended by WHO and UNICEF
• Logo of WHO recommended ORS
• WHO ORS logo in which “recommended” not
readable