Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) has recently organised a conclave on 'Access, innovation and reach of healthcare in India’ in Mumbai. The aim behind this conclave was to focus on improving access to healthcare through innovation, research and development. Special focus was given on ways to find tomorrow’s cures as it will continue to remain the primary focus for innovative pharmaceutical companies in India.

OPPI identifies itself with the country’s national healthcare objectives and plays an active role in achieving them. Towards this endeavour, the conclave intended to bring together distinguished globally-acclaimed professionals, experts, government officials and other stakeholders of the healthcare and allied sectors to chart a way forward to help achieving the healthcare goals of India.

Among those who participated were Dilsher Singh Kalha, secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Government of India, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO-India representative, Dr K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Dr Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Hrudayalaya Group of Hospitals.

According to OPPI, research-based pharmaceutical companies have created roughly 50 health partnerships over the last decade that have been helping improve the health of millions of people. While some have increased participation in charitable programs and joint public-private initiatives aimed at treating infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, others are furthering disease awareness programs and building support networks for doctors and patients, all while continuing research and development to find new cures and treatments.

According to Tapan Ray, director-general of OPPI, “Access to healthcare comprises not just of medicines, but more importantly a robust healthcare infrastructure including, doctors, paramedics, diagnostics, health centres and hospitals. In India the demand for these services has outstripped supply. However, the key focus of the government has still remained primarily on access to medicines. There is an urgent need to have a holistic approach in developing adequate healthcare infrastructure, efficient delivery system for medical supplies and creation of a talent pool of healthcare professionals and paramedics to ensure adequate access to healthcare for all the citizens of the country”.

OPPI recently had undertaken a study on ‘enhancing health care access in India,’ with an aim to identify the key barriers in accessing healthcare today. The study also focuses on ways to eliminate these barriers and develop a roadmap for improving healthcare access in the country.

According to Ranjit Shahani, president, OPPI, “Research-based pharmaceutical companies have a long legacy of corporate responsibility in India, with countless contributions to the improvement of health outcomes in the country. We are working every day around the clock to find new treatments and cures for society’s greatest health problems.”