Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India Private Limited (formerly known as Baxalta Bioscience India Private Limited), a global values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader conducted dissemination of its public health initiatives in strengthening the health system for rare diseases (RD) in India. These initiatives aim to improve access to healthcare for rare disease patients who otherwise face significant outcomes like childhood disabilities and life-long morbidity, early mortality, and progressively poor Quality of Life. The meeting was witnessed by Takeda’s partners including APCO Worldwide, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and DakshamA Health and Education.

Speaking about the public health initiatives of Takeda, Dr. Ruchi Sogarwal, Head of Corporate Affairs, Takeda India, said, “For the last 2 years, in line with the health system provisions defined under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD 2021) Government of India, Takeda has been working in three ways: First, spreading awareness amongst multiple stakeholders across the health sector and beyond about the rare disease cause and the policy provisions to support these patients. Second, experimenting with the Hub and Spoke capacity building and mentoring model to ensure early diagnosis and management. Third, exploring roadmap and solutions for a sustainable funding mechanism for rare disease patients in line with the Government of India guidelines and procedures for the same”.

“As a global public affairs advisory and strategic communication firm working at the intersection of government, industry, and civil society; associating with Takeda for this public health initiative was a humbling experience. In our effort to catalyze on-ground implementation of the NPRD 2021 and facilitate better coordination between the treating hospitals and the donor ecosystem, we were able to address some process-related challenges. While our efforts have created the much-needed impetus on the ecosystem to collaborate better to identify pathways to financially support patients of rare disorders, the question around a permanent solution to address sustainable funding options for treatment of RD patients still remains to be addressed” said Dr. Joyeta Ghoshal, Senior Associate Director, APCO Worldwide, India 

Emphasizing the significance of the health system, Dr. Sunil Mehra, Executive Director, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, India, said, “We have found that the Technical Support Unit (TSU) framework has been successful in supporting the health system with the engagement of relevant partners in India for various programs such as RMNCHA+, AIDS Control Program, NCD, etc. The MAMTA and Takeda Public Health Initiative were to replicate the best practices of the TSU in rare diseases with the objective of bringing all the stakeholders together including the state Government, Center of Excellence (CoE), and other medical institutions and associations for health system strengthening and improved access to healthcare”.