• 35,000 doctors from across India pledged their support for the initiative to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases.
• The human heart sculpted from a Rose quartz symbolizing the heart chakra stood 8 feet tall and weighed 3.5 tons.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Glenmark), a research-led, global pharmaceuticals company, proudly announced the launch of the next phase of ‘India First Heart First’ campaign. Building on the success and momentum of the initial phase, this nationwide initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing heart health challenges across India. The campaign underscores Glenmark’s commitment to addressing the critical health challenges posed by cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

The campaign had kicked off with a significant event on World Heart Day on September 29, 2023, where celebrated artist and Padma Shree recipient, Sudarsan Pattnaik, created a stunning sand sculpture of a human heart at Puri beach. The sculpture drew attention from over 5 million viewers, making a substantial impact in raising awareness.

Building on this momentum, the campaign marked another milestone on World Hypertension Day 2024. Glenmark collaborated with the President’s Award winner, gemstone carver artist Prithviraj Kumawat to sculpt a monumental human heart from single stone of Rose quartz, a stone associated with the heart chakra which promotes emotional balance. This unique sculpture, standing 8 feet tall and weighing 3.5 tons, was unveiled on May 17, 2024, that was attended by distinguished cardiologists from Delhi and Jaipur, including Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, Dr. J.S. Makkar, and Dr. Manoj Kumar.

The event featured talks from the cardiologists Dr J S Hiremath, Dr A Sreenivas Kumar, Dr JPS Sawhney and Dr Dilip Kumar highlighting the importance of heart health. Mr Kumawat spoke about his journey of creating the gemstone sculpture. Additionally, 35,000 doctors from across India sent in their pledges to support cardiovascular disease awareness. Their signed pledge cards were displayed at the base of the sculpture, reinforcing the collective commitment to this cause.

Mr. Alok Malik, President and Business Head – India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said, “Through the ‘India First Heart First’ campaign, we are not just raising awareness; we are building a movement. Recognizing the urgent need for greater awareness and proactive health measures, Glenmark is at the forefront of championing heart health. We believe this innovative approach will bring together art, science, and community outreach to create a lasting impact for raising heart health awareness across the country.”

According to a recent study, CVDs account for 17.7 million deaths in India and are the leading cause of non-communicable disease related deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for one-fifth of CVD deaths worldwide, especially among the younger population. The results of Global Burden of Disease study state age-standardized CVD death rate of 272 per 100,000 population in India which is much higher than that of global average of 235.