Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Healthcare in India: Addressing a Crucial Need

CSR initiatives in healthcare aim to bridge the gap between the population's needs and the available healthcare services.
One of the primary objectives of many healthcare-focused CSR initiatives is to enhance the accessibility and affordability of medical services. Many CSR programs focus on rural and under-served areas, providing free or subsidized medical camps, mobile health clinics, and medicine services.
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1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
in Healthcare in India: Addressing a
Crucial Need
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2. Introduction
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of business ethics and sustainable
development worldwide. In India, CSR has gained significant momentum, especially after the introduction
of the CSR mandate under the Companies Act, 2013,
As India and the global community embrace Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which emphasizes
good health and well-being as essential for individuals, communities, and nations, the focus on health
becomes even more critical. The Indian government has also prioritized SDG 3 through initiatives like
Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission which has further encouraged Indian companies to
align their CSR efforts to support healthcare.
CSR Spend on Healthcare - FY 2022-23
In line with the previous years, for FY-2022-23, Hunger, Poverty & healthcare received INR 825 crore and
were second to education which received INR 1211 crore. (Source: Primeinfobase.com, data of 610
companies who made voluntary disclosures)

3. CSR Spend on Healthcare – Comparison FY 21-22, 22-23
Even when comparing financial years healthcare as a thematic area was second to education which
attracted 1173.75 crore in FY 22-23

4. CSR Focus Areas in Healthcare
CSR initiatives in healthcare aim to bridge the gap between the population's needs and the available
healthcare services. Corporates, through their CSR activities, contribute to the building of healthcare
infrastructure, providing medical supplies, running malnutrition-focused programs & supporting health
education and awareness. These efforts are crucial in addressing immediate healthcare needs and long-
term public health issues.
One of the primary objectives of many healthcare-focused CSR initiatives is to enhance the accessibility
and affordability of medical services. Many CSR programs focus on rural and underserved areas, providing
free or subsidized medical camps, mobile health clinics, and telemedicine services. These initiatives
ensure that people in remote areas can access quality healthcare without the burden of high costs.

5. Examples Of Healthcare Focused CSR Programs
1. Apollo Tyers, HIV-AIDS Awareness & Prevention - The trucking community faces a high risk of
HIV/AIDS due to harsh working conditions, socio-economic inequality, and various behavioral factors.
To tackle these deep-rooted issues, Apollo Tyers launched an HIV awareness and prevention program
in 2001. This initiative provides counseling, raises awareness through Peer Educators, and offers testing
support via Integrated Counselling and Testing Centers (ICTC), in collaboration with the State AIDS
Control Society (SACS).
2. SBIF Sanjeevani - Sanjeevani is an initiative to provide primary healthcare services at the doorstep
of communities from rural, tribal, and remote areas through a mobile medical unit and a team of
medical professionals. Apart from primary healthcare services the project intends to improve the
health condition of communities by conducting regular mobile OPDs, provision of medicines, and
specialized health camps.

6. Examples Of Healthcare Focused CSR Programs
3. ICICI Bank, Dialysis treatment - The ICICI Foundation has been supplying dialysis machines to
hospitals treating kidney patients at minimal or no cost, focusing on smaller cities. The foundation has
provided 500+ dialysis machines in 16 states. These machines can enable 150,000 + free-of-cost
dialysis treatment sessions.
4. Hyundai Motor India Foundation’s Sparsh Sanjeevani public healthcare initiative was envisaged to
boost India’s healthcare services in remote villages, by reaching the hinterland and making primary
healthcare accessible to the underserved communities. Telemedicine clinics are nurse-assisted
clinics where patients are connected through video calls with specialist doctors, providing remote
specialist consultations in remote areas. Post consultation, each patient is provided with medicines by
the on-ground nurse.

7. Reasons Why Healthcare Has Emerged as a Preferred
Thematic Area for CSR
1. High Social Impact
Healthcare interventions have a direct and
significant impact on people's lives. Improving
health outcomes not only enhances the quality of
life but also contributes to economic development
by reducing the burden of disease. Companies are
increasingly recognizing the high social return on
investment that healthcare initiatives offer.
As a CSR consulting services firm that has advised numerous corporates, we feel several factors
contribute to healthcare emerging as a preferred thematic area for CSR in India:
2. Government Policies and Focus
The Indian government's policies and mandates
regarding CSR, coupled with its focus on
healthcare through schemes like Ayushman
Bharat, have encouraged companies to invest in
the healthcare sector. The alignment of corporate
goals with national health priorities creates a
conducive environment for CSR activities in
healthcare.

8. Reasons Why Healthcare Has Emerged as a Preferred
Thematic Area for CSR
3. Addressing Critical Needs
India faces critical healthcare challenges,
including high rates of communicable and non-
communicable diseases, maternal and child
health issues, and inadequate healthcare
infrastructure in rural areas. Companies see this
gap as an opportunity to address these needs
through their CSR initiatives, thereby contributing
to the nation's development.
4. Measurable Impact
Assessing the impact of CSR programs is crucial
for their success and is also a legal reporting
requirement. As a CSR consulting firm, having
studied multiple impact assessments, we believe
that healthcare-focused interventions often yield
measurable results more easily than some other
thematic areas due to the clear and quantifiable
nature of key metrics.
5. Availability of Implementation Partners
and Expertise
The presence of experienced implementation
partners is another critical factor. Numerous NGOs
specializing in healthcare have the necessary
expertise to execute programs effectively and
demonstrate credible outcomes.

9. Reasons Why Healthcare Has Emerged as a Preferred
Thematic Area for CSR
6. Corporate Brand Image & Employee
Engagement
Engaging in healthcare CSR enhances a
company's reputation and brand image.
Consumers and stakeholders are increasingly
valuing socially responsible businesses. By
contributing to healthcare, companies not only
fulfil their ethical & compliance obligations but
also build trust and goodwill among their
customers and the community.
CSR activities, especially in healthcare, provide
opportunities for employee engagement and
volunteering. Employees take pride in working for
companies that make a positive impact on
society.
7. Strategic Alignment with Core Business
For companies in the healthcare and
pharmaceutical sectors, CSR initiatives in
healthcare are a natural extension of their core
business. These companies can leverage their
expertise, resources, and networks to make
meaningful contributions to public health.

10. Reasons Why Healthcare Has Emerged as a Preferred
Thematic Area for CSR

11. Challenges and the Way Forward
While CSR in healthcare has made significant strides, several challenges remain:
• Sustainability
Ensuring the sustainability of healthcare initiatives is a major challenge. Short-term projects may provide
immediate relief, but long-term impact requires sustained effort and investment. Companies need to
adopt a strategic approach to ensure that their CSR initiatives are sustainable and create lasting change.
• Monitoring and Evaluation
Effective monitoring and evaluation of CSR initiatives are essential to measure impact and improve
outcomes. Companies need robust frameworks to assess the effectiveness of their healthcare projects
and make necessary adjustments.
• Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaboration between corporations & NGOs is crucial for the success of healthcare CSR initiatives.
Companies must select credible NGOs with proven track record by conducting proper NGO due Diligence.
Trust between corporates and NGOs is still an area of concern.

12. Challenges and the Way Forward
• Scalability
Scaling successful healthcare CSR initiatives to cover larger populations and geographies is a challenge.
Companies need to develop scalable models that can be replicated across different regions.
Conclusion
CSR in healthcare is playing a pivotal role in addressing the country's healthcare challenges. Companies
are making significant contributions by enhancing accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare
services. The emergence of healthcare as a preferred thematic area for CSR is driven by the high social
impact, alignment with government policies, and strategic benefits for businesses. While challenges
remain, the continued commitment of corporates to healthcare CSR holds promise for a healthier and
more equitable future for India

13. Thank You
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