Bengaluru, NFAPost: Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited, formerly known as Baxalta Bioscience India Private Limited, recently organized an event to disseminate its public health initiatives aimed at strengthening the healthcare system for rare diseases (RD) in India. These initiatives are focused on improving access to healthcare for patients with rare diseases who often face significant challenges such as childhood disabilities, lifelong morbidity, early mortality, and a poor quality of life.
The meeting was attended by Takeda’s partners, including APCO Worldwide, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and DakshamA Health and Education.
Dr Ruchi Sogarwal, Head of Corporate Affairs at Takeda India, spoke about the company’s public health initiatives, stating, “Over the past two years, Takeda has been working in alignment with the health system provisions outlined in the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD 2021) by the Government of India. Our efforts have focused on raising awareness among various stakeholders within and beyond the healthcare sector about rare diseases and the policy provisions to support affected patients. We have also been experimenting with a Hub and Spoke capacity building and mentoring model to ensure early diagnosis and management. Additionally, we are exploring solutions and a roadmap for a sustainable funding mechanism for rare disease patients, in line with the guidelines and procedures set forth by the Government of India.”
Dr Joyeta Ghoshal, Senior Associate Director at APCO Worldwide India, expressed her satisfaction at collaborating with Takeda on this public health initiative. She stated, “As a global public affairs advisory and strategic communication firm operating at the intersection of government, industry, and civil society, our association with Takeda has been a humbling experience. Our joint efforts have provided the much-needed impetus to foster collaboration within the ecosystem, enabling us to identify pathways for financial support to rare disease patients. However, the question of finding a permanent solution to address sustainable funding options for the treatment of RD patients still remains unanswered.”
Dr Sunil Mehra, Executive Director of MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child in India, highlighted the importance of the health system in addressing rare diseases. He stated, “We have observed that the Technical Support Unit (TSU) framework has been successful in supporting the health system through the engagement of relevant partners in India for various programs such as RMNCHA+, AIDS Control Program, NCD, and more. The MAMTA and Takeda Public Health Initiative aims to replicate these best practices of the TSU in rare diseases, bringing together all stakeholders, including state governments, Centers of Excellence (CoE), medical institutions, and associations, to strengthen the health system and improve access to healthcare.”
Overall, Takeda’s public health initiatives in India focus on raising awareness about rare diseases, implementing effective models for early diagnosis and management, and exploring sustainable funding mechanisms. By collaborating with various partners and stakeholders, Takeda aims to make a positive impact on the lives of rare disease patients and improve their access to quality healthcare.
