Novartis launches programme to cover rural areas
Novartis India on Wednesday said it has launched Arogya Parivar, a programme, to address the health needs of rural areas, which would give it new business areas.
By PTI |
MUMBAI: Novartis India on Wednesday said it has launched "Arogya Parivar", a programme, to address the health needs of rural areas, which would give it new business areas.
"By 2010, we would like to cover 50 million patients in the rural areas of the country through Arogya Parivar," Novartis India Vice Chairman and MD Ranjit Shahani told reporters.
The company has launched Arogya Parivar in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It would take this programme to other parts of the country, too, he said.
This programme would give newer markets to the company's 24 generic products and over the counter drugs for treatment of tuberculosis, mother and child malnutrition, respiratory and gastro-intestinal problems, he said.
Explaining the need for taking an initiative for the rural areas, Shahani said 65 per cent of the people have no access to medicines in India.
India is worse off than Africa when it comes to accessing medicines, he said. About 47 per cent Africans are not able to access medicines, he said, quoting figures from WHO data. In China 15 per cent of the people do not have access to medicines.
Arogya Parivar has been structured into an independent cell, each covering a radius of 35 km. Each cell is managed by a supervisor a few health educators.
They would raise awareness among the populace of diseases, prevention and treatment, refer patients to doctors, brief physicians and make Novartis product available in pharmacies.
"By 2010, we would like to cover 50 million patients in the rural areas of the country through Arogya Parivar," Novartis India Vice Chairman and MD Ranjit Shahani told reporters.
The company has launched Arogya Parivar in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It would take this programme to other parts of the country, too, he said.
This programme would give newer markets to the company's 24 generic products and over the counter drugs for treatment of tuberculosis, mother and child malnutrition, respiratory and gastro-intestinal problems, he said.
Explaining the need for taking an initiative for the rural areas, Shahani said 65 per cent of the people have no access to medicines in India.
India is worse off than Africa when it comes to accessing medicines, he said. About 47 per cent Africans are not able to access medicines, he said, quoting figures from WHO data. In China 15 per cent of the people do not have access to medicines.
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Arogya Parivar has been structured into an independent cell, each covering a radius of 35 km. Each cell is managed by a supervisor a few health educators.
They would raise awareness among the populace of diseases, prevention and treatment, refer patients to doctors, brief physicians and make Novartis product available in pharmacies.
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