Bangalore, India, August 10th, 2014:
Biocon Ltd, Asia's premier biotechnology company, kicked off a series of patient outreach programs to mark a Decade of Excellence in Affordable Insulin Therapy, through which it has been touching the lives of lakhs of diabetic patients. Biocon was an early pioneer in the development of generic recombinant human Insulin (rh-Insulin) and introduced it to patients in India in 2004.
As a part of the initiative, special programs like health camps for senior citizens are being organized in several cities across India. In Bangalore, Dr. N. Prakash (General Practitioner, MBBS DNB) led the company’s efforts at the Shree Old Age Home in Mahalakshmipuram, where over 40 senior citizens underwent a comprehensive free health check-up. The camp included cardio-diabetic screening, health & eye checkups followed by doctor consultations and a session on diabetes awareness.
The company's engagement with the senior citizens who underwent screening at the health camp will extend to subsidized/free lifetime medication (oral cardio, anti-diabetics & insulins) and distribution of free optical devices.
The health camp was organized as a part of Biocon's efforts to improve the quality of life of patients, especially the less privileged & neglected members of society who deserve that extra attention and care in the advancing years.
Commenting on this noble initiative, Mr. Ravindra Limaye, President, Marketing, Biocon said, “The instances of chronic morbidities like diabetes and hypertension among the geriatric population are constantly increasing. Also, as age advances, this is the population which is neglected worldwide. Proper diagnosis and timely treatment are key in reducing the burden of illness and associated costs.”
“For the past decade, Biocon has been hand holding patients through a holistic & highly effective diabetes management program that reaches out to all stakeholders. As we approach the milestone of a decade of excellence in affordable insulin therapy in India, we are endeavoring to empower many more fellow Indians with increased choices in healthcare management,” he added.
Dr. N. Prakash said: "I am happy to be a part of this initiative from Biocon to bring healthcare services to the doorsteps of less privileged members of the society. I feel they will greatly benefit from the health interventions that we did today."
Developing countries like India are challenged with a much larger disease burden due to ageing populations and rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Among the NCDs, diabetes represents a huge disease burden for India, where there were 65 million cases of diabetes in 2013. It is estimated that India could have over 85 million diabetes patients by 2030. (Source: ICMR; Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India).
Over the past decade, Biocon has been offering cost-effective and easily accessible treatment for diabetes, which typically imposes a huge economic burden on patients that gets magnified because it leads to related complications, including heart, kidney, eye and foot disease.
Biocon has been addressing the large need for affordable Insulin therapy in India through its generic rh-Insulin and analogs. It has increased patient access to Insulin across India by ensuring affordability, resulting in improved diabetes management. Nearly a million patients have benefited from Biocon’s inclusive diabetes management programme till date.
Biocon's differentiated insulin products and devices and personalized medical support have given the company the distinction of being not only the largest Indian insulins company but the fastest growing insulins company in India as well. (Source: MAT June 2014, IMS).
'Winning with Diabetes' is an ongoing patient outreach initiative of Biocon, which is manned by around 100 diabetes care advisors working round-the-clock to improve patient adherence to therapy (medication, diet and exercise) through a structured six-visit plan for counseling called ‘iTAP’ (insulin therapy assistance program). Other programs include ABIDE, a novel diabetes education initiative for medical practitioners and Sampark, a chemist education program.
About Biocon:
Biocon Ltd. is a fully-integrated, innovation-led, emerging global biopharmaceutical enterprise serving customers in over 85 countries. It is committed to reduce therapy costs of chronic diseases like autoimmune, diabetes, and cancer to enable access to affordable healthcare solutions for patients, partners and healthcare systems across the globe. Biocon’s branded formulations business is an India-centric business with a portfolio of over 70 brands across seven therapeutic segments comprising Oncology, Immunology, Diabetology, Nephrology, Cardiology and Comprehensive Care.
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations
Seema Ahuja
Phone: +91 080 2808 2808
Email: seema.ahuja@biocon.com
Rumman Ahamed
Phone: +91 080 2808 2808
Email: rumman.ahmed@biocon.com
Investor Relations
Saurabh Paliwal
Phone: +91 95383 80801
Email: saurabh.paliwal@biocon.com
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