Bayer Consumer Health partners with FICCI topromote responsible self-care in India!
At the ‘Self-care for a Self-reliant India’ conference, co-convened with FICCI, Bayer Consumer Health Division launched India’s first Self-Care Council and also plans to launch a national self care knowledge service
Responsible self-care scales access to everyday health solutions for minor ailments, reducing the pressure on healthcare practitioners while bolstering productivity
Chennai , June 04 , 2021:Bayer Consumer Health Division,along with The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), todayconvened the ‘Self-care for a Self-reliant India’conference.The event was graced by key industry representatives and consumer health experts, fostering a discussion on everyday consumer health solutions and the important role they will continue to play in the current pandemic and beyond.
In India, adults have a tendency to overlook minor illnesses, thus failing to prioritize everyday healthcare.This can take a toll on overall health, wellbeing and productivity. An average Indian’s peak productive period lasts only seven years as per a Lancet study, with India ranked 158 among 195 countries in ‘expected human capital’ or the number of years an individual can work at peak productivity is between the ages of 20 and 64. Further, India also ranked below all other countries in the South Asian region in functional health status, which assesses prevalence of impairments and diseases that affect learning and productivity. The advent of responsible self-care can help address these gaps, promoting proactive health-seeking behaviours which can contribute to an optimized quality of life and the maintenance of a healthy workforce.Moreover, given that India may have the world’s largest workforce by 2027, consumer health can play a significant role in bolstering productivity by reducing lost labour time and lowering hospitalization costs.
Self-care solutions, which offer multifold benefits for individuals and the economy, also ease the pressure on healthcare practitioners. There is only one doctor for every 1,511 people in India, against the World Health Organization’s stipulated 1:1000 doctor-patient ratio. Consumer health offerings can reduce the need for clinic visits, thus sustaining proactive everyday healthcare and reaching underserved consumers across the nation. This can enable communitiesto bounce back beyond the pandemic with enhanced health and productivity.
Addressing the need for a paradigm shift in consumer health in India, Bayer Consumer Health Division has launched India’s first Self-Care Council with the aim to navigate and address pressing topics and misconceptions about health and sustainability. This council, a multi-stakeholder body,will comprise members across a broadspectrum of sectors, including media, industry associations, technology, infrastructure, and other organizations.Through this council, Bayer Consumer Health also plans to launch a national self-care knowledge service, a first of its kind digitally-enabled solution backed by scientific expertise to empower consumers with uninterrupted access to reliable and credible information on self-care. This service can prompt proactive health management for improved quality of life and increased productivity.
The ‘Self-care for a Self-reliant India’conference, through panel discussions with eminent speakers including Mr.Sandeep Verma, Country Head, Bayer Consumer Health Division, India, Ms. Manjari Gharat, Academician & President, Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Dr.Avula Laxman, Senior Deputy Director,Indian Council of Medical Research and Dr. VG Somani, Drugs Controller General of India, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisationexamined the current landscape of self-care in India and the need to accelerate the adoption of responsible self-care practices in the country. Over a fireside chat, Mr. N.K. Ahuja, Drugs Controller, Haryana and Mr. Arun Mishra, FICCI OTC Task Forceelaborated on the direction in which regulatory change and a well-developed framework is needed for a comprehensive OTC policy to build a sustainable consumer health sector, setting the foundation for Aatmanirbharta in self-care.
Sandeep Verma, Country Head,Bayer Consumer Health Division – India commented, “The current times have highlighted the need for self-care, which can enhance productivity and one’s quality of life, driving India’s goal towards Atmanirbharta and becoming a $5 trillion economy in the next few years. At this crucial juncture, easing the burden on India’s healthcare infrastructure is imperative, while simultaneously equipping and empowering more than one billion Indians to make informed choices and pursue better health and nutrition. Bayer Consumer Healthis committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders through the country’s first Self-Care Council to enable responsible self-care in India, driving forward our vision of ‘Health for All, Hunger for None’. Through this endeavour, we hope to expand access to safe, convenient and effective daily health solutions.”
Bayer’sConsumer Health division in India, encompassesa strong portfolio of 10 trusted and legacy brands across analgesics, nutrition, allergy, and dermatology categories. As a part of its GlobalSustainability Goals, Bayer’s Consumer Health Divisionaims to expand access to everyday health for 100 million people in underserved communities around the world. The division leverages digital opportunities across the entire value chain to scale access to healthcare and personalized self-care solutions, raise awareness and provide reliable health information.
