Profile

Ranbaxy has a strong element of Corporate Social Responsibility inscribed in its values and its concern for the society extends well beyond its business motives.

The company does not view success and achievements in terms of commercial gains only but firmly believes that corporate social responsibility is the key for providing a deep symbiotic relationship that exists between the company and the environment it functions. Over two decades ago, in 1979, in the wake of grim health scenario of India, Ranbaxy realised the urgency to reach out to those who had little or no access even to basic health care and instituted ‘Ranbaxy Rural Development Trust’.

The main objective of the programme was to deliver primary health care to the underserved and underprivileged section of the society to achieve positive health for them and thus to contribute to the national objective ‘Health For All’. As the scope of the programme and company’s commitment grew, in 1994, a professionally managed, nonprofit, independent body ‘Ranbaxy Community Health Care Society’ (RCHS) was established against the backdrop of full moral and financial support of the company.

Mission & Values Community participation

It was recognized that over 70 percent of the deliveries in RCHS service areas were conducted at home by either untrained or improperly trained ‘dais'. On one hand, lack of skills was causing many neo-natal deaths while on the other these ‘dais' acted as counselors to pregnant women and enjoyed easy accessibility and acceptability. Thus, as a strategy, two-phase intervention was planned where the RCHS Medical officers were trained to train the ‘dais' in the first phase and training of ‘dais' from the community was done in the second phase.

RCHS has established community based local groups like health committees, women groups and other interactive groups like “dais”, “anganwari” workers, volunteers, adolescents and breast-feeding support groups to promote community involvement and self-sustainability.

Scientific approach

RCHS firmly believes in a focused and integrated approach to the basic issues of health care that are elementary and directly responsible for the state of community health in RCHS service areas. With a view to plan future strategies for need based interventions, RCHS regularly monitors and records all vital events such as live births, infant deaths, maternal deaths and abortions etc. For example, the main causes of infant and maternal mortality as identified in RCHS areas are Low Birth Weight, Diarrhoea, Pneumonia, Birth Asphyxia, Hypothermia, Anaemia in pregnancy including obstetrical causes like Sepsis or Haemorrhage. Special attention is given to promote ORS in Diarrhoea and early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Pneumonia. Focussed work with precise risk groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, newly married eligible couples and adolescent girls to prevent low birth weight and anaemia in pregnancy, including referral services for dealing with obstetrical emergencies are some of the steps taken in order to bring down the infant and maternal mortality rates in RCHS areas.

Road ahead ...

In the future there are plans to develop more need-based programs with emphasis on educating and empowering communities through knowledge, access to information and provision of quality services. The aim remains to improve their quality of life and achieve sustainable human development.

Contact Dr. R.S.Bakshi Chief Medical Officer-RCHS Corporate Office, Plot 90, Sector 32, Gurgaon -122001 ( Haryana), INDIA Ph: +91- 124- 4135000 Email: ranbir.bakshi@ranbaxy.com