Cipla launches initiative to improve access to nebulisers for acute asthma management in primary health care centres of rural India

Mumbai: Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA EQ; and hereafter referred to as “Cipla”) announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to improve access to nebulization therapy specifically for patients in the rural sections of the country. With Cipla’s unmatched presence across the care continuum and a wide range of drug-device combinations and treatments, the company is aiding patients with access to modern treatments.

Cipla’s respiratory medications have helped millions of asthmatic patients breathe free across the country with the Company’s guiding purpose of “Caring for Life”.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 there are 72 million people in India who suffer from Obstructive Airway Disease (OAD) viz. Asthma and COPD. Patients suffering from asthma/COPD face at least one or two episodes of disease worsening every year that requires them visiting a hospital or their nearest health center or consulting with their doctor. Given the limited availability of nebulized treatment at rural setups, patients are often given oral drugs or injectable for management of these acute episodes.

Cipla aims to distribute 5000 nebulizers to primary health care setups in India where nebulization therapy is not available currently, thus enabling access for the masses. These CHCs (Community Health Centers) /PHCs (Primary Health Centers) across several states in the country namely – Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Sikkim will be adopted by Cipla to create good nebulization centers, spread awareness regarding the therapy and undertake trainings for the associated paramedical staff on the science of safe nebulization practices.

With an aim to address the low awareness around nebulization in acute disease management, Cipla is also attempting to create a World Record of making the ‘largest nebulizer sentence’ with these 5000 nebulizers. The statement reads ‘Breathe Free.’ and it will be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Achin Gupta, CEO, One India Business, Cipla said, “Armed with six decades of scientific knowledge and expertise in respiratory therapy, we have helped millions across the world breathe free. In line with our purpose of ‘Caring for Life’ we aim to address the low awareness and gaps in nebulization therapy for acute asthma across rural areas. The adoption of these centres under the aegis of Cipla across the 9 states within the country will help us reach far and wide to address the challenge of access to nebulization therapy in our country. Our aim is to help as many patients as we can with respiratory disorders visiting these primary health setups for management of their acute episodes and to benefit from this cause enormously.”