By: Rahul Koul
Last updated : December 21, 2020 9:35 am
The idea is to extend the reach to these communities and provide them with healthcare facilities and improve the quality of life of all individuals.
India’s top pharma companies have spent more than Rs. 286.65 crore to the PM-Cares Fund and separate monetary donations to the state relief funds during the ongoing pandemic.
In April 2020, Pharmaceutical major, Cipla announced Rs. 25 crore funds to support the Indian Government’s fight against COVID-19 which included a voluntary donation of Rs. 3 crores by Cipla employees. The company pledged Rs. 9 crores to PM-CARES Fund and a donation of Rs. 8 crores to different states authorities across India. Cipla also committed Rs. 4 crores towards supply of essential items such as medicines, PPE, sanitisers and food.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories committed to Rs. 9.15 crores to fight COVID-19 through their CSR initiatives. A number of initiatives were undertaken to support communities that were impacted severely by the COVID-19 outbreak. The company extended monetary support to the Government of Telangana to enable access to safety gears. The company also made monetary contribution of Rs. 5 crores towards Andhra Pradesh CM Relief Fund.
Lupin announced an Rs. 21 crores contribution towards COVID-19 relief measures. Lupin employees across the country contributed two days of their salaries amounting to Rs. 5.5 crores to the PM-CARES fund which was matched by the company.
Talking about the work of IPA member companies in rural and hard to reach areas, Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, Lupin says, “This has allowed us to extend the reach to these communities and provide them with healthcare facilities and improve the quality of life of all individuals.”
B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals has contributed Rs. 2 crores to the PM-CARES Fund to supporting the government's efforts to combat and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak.
Mankind Pharma committed to donating Rs. 25 crores to PM-CARES Fund and Rs. 14 crores to different states in CMs fund and rest distributed to medical healthcare and police etc. The company also announced a donation of Rs. 5 crores to support the families of policemen and policewomen who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Sun Pharma committed to donating Rs. 25 crores worth of materials to the fight against COVID-19. Unichem Laboratories contributed Rs. 2 crores to the PM-CARES Fund. Torrent Pharma committed Rs. 100 crores to the fight against COVID-19, with Rs. 50 crores donated to the PM-CARES Fund and the other Rs. 50 crores under various initiatives such as providing essential medicines. Another IPA member, NATCO Pharma made a donation of Rs. 4 crores to the PM-CARES Fund.
Ajanta Pharma committed Rs. 6 crores in the fight against COVID-19 out of which Rs. 2 crores were donated to the PM-CARES Fund. The remainder Rs. 4 crores were spent on providing ventilators, thermal thermometers, sanitisers and protective gears such as gloves, masks, PPE kits, etc. to the Government of Maharashtra and its agencies.
Alembic Group committed Rs. 10 crores to fight COVID-19 via direct contributions to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, and the Sikkim Government. Alkem Laboratories contributed Rs. 7 crores to the PM-CARES Fund to aid in initiatives aimed at combating COVID-19. Additionally, Rs. 20 lakh contributions were made to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Aurobindo Pharma donated a total of Rs. 7.5 crores and Rs. 3.5 crores worth of PPE Kits, Medical Kits, sanitisers and masks, to Telangana State Disaster management Authority, besides also donating Rs. 10 crores to PM-CARES Fund.
Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General, IPA praises the key role played by companies towards nation building and helping the country in its journey towards achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“They have undertaken incredible humanitarian relief efforts undertaken in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in India,” added Jain.