Corporate Leadership Submmit on TB and Lung Health

To galvanise corporate sector towards the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), The Union, in partnership with ASSOCHAM organised a Virtual Corporate Summit on TB and Lung Health on 28th January 2022. The summit, organised under iDEFEAT TB Project, witnessed industry leaders exploring solutions to meet the current challenges faced by the national programme and discussed how Corporates can support the programme through their workplaces and community engagement initiatives.

More than 150 people attended the event including representatives from various corporate houses, ASSOCHAM member companies and other organisations. Eminent dignitaries participated at the event including Dr Rajendra Joshi [DDG (TB), Central TB Division], Ms. Sangita Patel [Director,USAID/India Health Office], Padma Shri Dr. D S Rana [Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Wellness Council & Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital], Dr. Sudhir Kalhan [Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Healthcare Council & Chairman, Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital], Smt. Upasana Arora [Co-Chair, ASSOCHAM National Empowerment Council & Chairperson, Yashoda Superspeciality Hospitals], Cmdr. Navneet Bali [Co-Chair ASSOCHAM Healthcare Council & Director Narayana Super speciality Hospital Gurugram-Northern Region] and Dr Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, Regional Director, The Union South-East Asia.

The event also witnessed the recorded message by Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism Shri. Shripad Yesso Naik, committed support of his ministry in the fight against TB and urged companies to spend CSR resources on TB too. The highlight of the summit was the panel discussion on the topic – “Corporate engagement is a successful strategy in various developmental areas, can India achieve the ambitious target of TB elimination by 2025 without the active participation of corporate sector?”.

The session was moderated by Dr Neeraj Nischal [ Additional Professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS, Delhi] and the panelist included leadership from different sectors including Dr.Raghuram Rao [ Joint Director (TB), Central TB Division ], Dr Ravi Gaur [Director & Chair Medical Advisory Committee, Oncquest Laboratories Ltd.], Mr. Chander Shekhar Sibal [Senior Vice President, Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd.].

Dr.Blossom Kochhar [Co-chair ASSOCHAM empowerment council and Chairperson Aroma Magic], Dr. Rohit Ghatule [Medical Director, MSD India] and Dr Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva [Regional Director (The Union South-East Asia].

The summit marked, seven ASSOCHAM members joining the corporate TB Pledge. These companies included Dabur Research Foundation, Narayana Super speciality hospital, MSD India, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital (Kaushambi), Tirupati Wellness Private Limited and Oncquest Laboratories Limited.