| (L – R) Sanjeev Navangul, Managing Director- Janssen India, J&J; Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI, Shailesh Ayyangar, President, OPPI and Managing Director, India and Vice President- South Asia- Sanofi; DR Mehta, Founder and Chief Patron, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti; Sudarshan Jain, Vice President OPPI Access & Affordability Working Group and Managing Director, Healthcare Solutions, Abbott Healthcare |
The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) recently organised its third Healthcare Access Summit in Mumbai. At this summit, leaders from the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare policy experts, consumer activists and other distinguished professionals focused on the importance of partnerships in achieving affordable healthcare access for all.
Global best practices in healthcare access were shared and discussions revolved around better standards in healthcare and wellness.
“Understanding the challenge is critical to achieving Universal Healthcare Access and finding sustainable solutions. Government needs to lead the way in collaborating with the industry and all stakeholders. We need holistic solutions and all the stakeholders will have a role to play, the pharma industry is willing to step forward and do its part,” said Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI, in her welcome address.
Dr Shailesh Ayyangar, President, OPPI, and Managing Director, India and Vice President, South Asia, Sanofi added, “The pharma industry is more than willing to partner with the Government to achieve the vision of healthcare access for all. Focus on human resource augmentation, last-mile availability of medicines and stronger healthcare distribution will catalyse access to healthcare.”
Pankaj Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, Cadila Healthcare, in his discussion, pointed out that healthcare in the country presently seems to be ‘nobody’s baby’.
He added, “Effective access to healthcare can be achieved only with a stable healthcare policy which will address all the critical dimensions. Government needs to encourage innovation and clinical research that will provide access to modern medicines.”
DR Mehta, the Founder and Chief Patron, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) was the recipient of the first OPPI Healthcare Access Award 2014 for the exemplary work done for the rehabilitation of the physically disabled.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai