Our collaborations with Govt of India focus on building resilient healthcare systems

Sylvia Varela ,AVPAsia,AstraZeneca discusses about the company’s plans to drive market growth,address public health challenges,improve accessibility,and champion gender diversity in the pharma sector,in an interview with Viveka Roychowdhury

As this will be your first official visit to India following your appointment as the Asia Area Vice President, AstraZeneca what are your plans to grow the India market share?

AstraZeneca is committed to transform healthcare for billions of people. Pioneering science is accelerating our understanding of disease, helping us better predict clinical success, develop and deliver life changing medicines and increase engagement in the clinic and beyond.

We’re building success across our markets and our therapy areas by creating innovative medicines and improving access to them, with the aim of transforming the lives of the greatest number of patients with improved outcomes and a better quality of life. The pandemic showed the power of science, technology and public-private partnerships in driving innovation and we are applying the lessons learned to address future challenges.

India is unique and presents exciting opportunities. We recognise the opportunity to serve growing patient population and contribute to improving healthcare outcomes especially in the noncommunicable disease areas. With a high prevalence of conditions like cancer, diabetes, respiratory problems cardiovascular ailments and rare diseases, we are working with the ecosystem to ensure that we are able to deliver most effective medicines to patients in need. We are building strategic alliances with government bodies, local healthcare institutions and diagnostic organisations which can help co-create tailored healthcare solutions and improve the overall access to care.

In terms of therapeutic focus areas, what will be the growth drivers for AstraZeneca in a post pandemic world, as revenues from COVID-19 medicines reduce?

COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of health systems across the world. It has nudged us to adopt more resilient healthcare systems that can help address the underlying challenges such as the rise of non-communicable diseases. While COVID-19 has been a significant focus for us during the pandemic, we are invested in bringing down the burden of some of the biggest healthcare challenges today. Our strategy involves a balanced approach across all therapeutic areas we are present in to address unmet medical needs and deliver value to patients.

AstraZeneca continues to place a high priority on cancer. We continue to invest in research and development to advance therapies for conditions like lung, breast, and ovarian cancers. We have a solid portfolio of cuttingedge oncology medications. We expect considerable growth prospects in this therapeutic field as a result of the rising prevalence of certain diseases and the demand for personalised medical techniques.

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases continue to constitute significant worldwide health burdens. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart failure are a few of the ailments for which AstraZeneca has a longstanding commitment to finding novel solutions. We expect sustainable growth by addressing the unmet requirements of people and healthcare systems in these areas.

Furthermore, globally we are actively pursuing advancements in the fields of immunology, neuroscience, and rare diseases. These areas present opportunities for AstraZeneca to leverage our scientific expertise and develop innovative therapies that can make a meaningful impact on patients' lives.

Additionally, our commitment to people and sustainability and addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues aligns with the growing focus on holistic patient care. We will continue to integrate inclusive and sustainable practices into our operations and leverage our capabilities to contribute to the overall well-being of patients and communities.

Most of India's population pays for healthcare out of pocket. What are the company's plans to make healthcare more affordable, accessible, and equitable, especially for families impacted by rare diseases? We understand the importance of making healthcare more affordable, accessible, and equitable for