Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd is a global R&D driven bio-pharma major. Their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in India are deeply rooted in the company’s mission to enhance healthcare access, improve community well-being, and promote environmental sustainability. Dr. Ruchi Sogarwal, Director of Corporate Affairs at Takeda India, highlights that their efforts are aligned with both national healthcare goals and the unmet needs of patients across the country. Through strategic partnerships with healthcare authorities, non-profits, and global agencies, they seek to bridge critical gaps in healthcare delivery while complementing government programs like Ayushman Bharat.
At the heart of their CSR agenda is a commitment to leveraging Takeda’s research and development capabilities to introduce innovative solutions, particularly in rare disease management. By focusing on digital tools like ‘MyPKFit’ for hemophilia care, ‘Synapse’ for professional education, and ‘Athena’ for patient engagement, Takeda not only empowers patients and healthcare professionals but also sets a new standard for digital healthcare in India. Additionally, the company remains dedicated to environmental sustainability, taking tangible steps through partnerships with organizations like Pure Earth to reduce lead exposure in children, furthering their holistic approach to improving societal health. With a focus on long-term impact, scalability, and sustainability, Takeda’s CSR programs represent a comprehensive effort to enhance healthcare outcomes and foster a healthier, more sustainable future for communities across India.
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Q. With Health Systems Strengthening and Community Care as key pillars of Takeda’s initiatives, how do you plan to align these with patient needs and government healthcare goals?
A. At Takeda, all our CSR initiatives are driven by one aim- to enable positive impact on the health and well-being of society. Our approach involves close collaboration with healthcare authorities, NGOs, UN agencies, and other organizations to identify unmet healthcare needs. We regularly assess opportunities to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery and align our initiatives with national health priorities. Our programs aim to complement government efforts, focusing on developing the healthcare value chain to make a significant impact on the lives of individuals and society at large.
Q. Takeda collaborates with various entities. How does the organization identify and engage new partners to expand the reach and effectiveness of its CSR programs in India?
A. As a global company operating in India, we employ a multi-faceted approach to identify potential partners. When evaluating partners, we seek organizations across government, non-profits, transnational agencies, academic and research institutions, and other like-minded entities that share our values and can bring complementary resources to reach people at the grassroots level. Our partnerships with both private and government entities exemplify this approach, allowing us to positively impact lives and achieve valuable outcomes through these partnerships.
Q. How does Takeda leverage its R&D expertise to develop innovative approaches to healthcare?
A. As an R&D-driven organization, we develop all approaches based on critical research and supported by significant data. One of our key therapy areas in India is rare diseases, where we have been at the forefront of introducing innovative digital solutions in disease management for the convenience of both patients and healthcare professionals. During the last G20 meeting in New Delhi, we highlighted three unique digital solutions to reiterate our patient-focused approach. One such solution is ‘MyPKFit,’ an FDA-approved application that offers real-time monitoring of factor VIII levels on smartphones, aiding people with hemophilia in better managing their treatment. Another solution, ‘Synapse,’ is designed to enhance awareness and knowledge-sharing among healthcare professionals (HCPs). Additionally, we presented ‘Athena,’ a digital health solution that enables remote patient data capture and improves patient engagement for Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive (ALK+) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, their caregivers, and HCPs.
Q. Does Takeda share learnings and best practices from its Indian CSR programs with other pharmaceutical companies or healthcare organizations to promote wider adoption of effective interventions?
A. To ensure our CSR interventions gain wider adoption, we select projects that are prioritized as beneficiaries of CSR while ensuring a sustainable approach. For example, the Government of India introduced the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission, with the overarching goal of harnessingtechnology and digitization to enhance patient outcomes, streamline operational efficiencies, and expand connected and SMART healthcare. These promising developments require digital skills and maturity to improve the uptake of digital technologies. We partnered with UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) to support the development of a country-specific capacity-building program on 'Digital Health Enterprise Planning' for health professionals by adapting standard global digital health content. The UN GCNI collaborated with UNICEF, IIT-Bombay, and IIHMR Delhi for this project, which is now available for the skill upgrades of health workers.
We remain committed to knowledge-sharing as a means of maximizing our impact. Therefore, we regularly participate in related conversations and share our experiences and learnings. Additionally, we publish reports on our CSR initiatives, making this information accessible to other organizations, authorities, and individuals.
Q. Does Takeda have concrete plans and measurable goals for its third CSR pillar- environmental sustainability, in the context of its Indian operations?
A. Environmental sustainability is an integral part of Takeda’s strategy. Globally, we have set ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, freshwater withdrawal, waste management, and product stewardship, and we’re proud to have reached significant milestones over the last few years. From a CSR perspective, we define measurable goals for this pillar based on specific interventions with focused outcomes. For example, today, 1 in 3 of the world’s children have enough lead in their blood to cause permanent brain damage, yet many countries lack systems and technical capacity to effectively reduce childhood lead exposure. We partnered with Pure Earth to support specific interventions to build capacity to monitor lead exposure in children, improve environmental health data, and strengthen the ability of healthcare professionals to identify, treat, and prevent lead poisoning early. The project is being implemented in five countries, including Maharashtra state in India, supported by the Takeda Global CSR Fund. In India, Pure Earth is working with the Maharashtra State Health System Resource Centre to develop the Blood Lead Level surveillance plan, and lab capacity-building programs in FY24, with defined measurable project goals. We are proud of our progress and recognize that there is more to do to contribute to environmental sustainability.
Q. Which parameters guide the allocation of resources and the process selection of CSR projects for Takeda?
A. CSR is an essential element of Takeda’s presence in India, guided by three strategic pillars: Health Systems Strengthening, Community Care, and Environmental Sustainability. Our project selection and resource allocation are based on several key parameters to ensure maximum impact and alignment with both national and local healthcare priorities.
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