Pfizer, the world’s leading manufacturer of pharma and biopharmaceutical products has partnered with International Federation of Ageing (IFA) to advocate life vaccination and to promote and protect the healthcare of ageing population across the world.

While interacting with Pharmabiz at Hyderabad international convention center (HICC), Dr Jack Watters, vice president for external medical affairs, Pfizer said, “The significance of my presence here in Hyderabad is to tell about our collaboration with IFA to promote its initiative of healthy ageing. We are present in India more than 60 years since 1950 and over the years we have seen many changes that have come up in the healthcare sector of country. Not just pharma and healthcare, the country is growing vibrantly in different sectors. Healthy competition among the pharmaceutical firms is good, as it not only helps lowering of cost of drugs, but also helps in improving the quality of medicines.  Healthy competition also enables innovations and helps in discovering new drugs and vaccines to keep the world healthier and free from diseases.”

In a bid to promote the initiative of IFA, Pfizer is advocating lifelong immunisation programme. IFA, Pfizer along with the local governments are promulgating programmes to work on private public partnership, so that all the stake holders like the pharma companies, NGOs and the governments are involved in effectively taking up the healthier aging programme for the adult population.

Gregory R Shaw, director of International Corporate relations, IFA said, “Ageing is a natural process, its starts right from the time of birth onwards. Lot of elders who reach beyond 60 years are prone to various diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer and others that are related to aces and respiratory problems. There has been no proper care given to the elders in most of the countries across the world. Particularly the families in many of the advanced nations consider elders as burden to the society. Their right for healthier life is not protected. In view of this, we have formed IFA in the year 2010 and since then working to protect the rights of elders across the world. Our partnership with Pfizer will help us in enabling our goal to provide better medicines and vaccines to the older people so that they undergo a healthier aging life.”

The main objective of IFA and Pfizer’s partnership is two pronged. One is to create awareness among the public about the use of vaccines as an effective investment for a healthier life in the future. Second is to fight for the rights of the older people and help them live a dignified life till their end. For this, IFA is also planning to work with state and central governments to convince them to come out with policies and programmes to not only protect the healthcare of elders but also help them get their rights to live a dignified life during their old age.