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Meeting highlights:
- Recognizing the critical need for accessible healthcare, MSD has prioritized improving patient access through initiatives like voluntary licensing agreements for Molnupiravir during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling global access to this antiviral through India-based manufacturing for over 100 LMICs.
- The company continues to expand access to Keytruda, now approved for 17 indications across 10 tumor types, with patient assistance programs that have significantly increased affordability for lower-income families.
- MSD is at the forefront of raising awareness about cervical cancer prevention by partnering with FOGSI (The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India) to establish vaccination centers and driving public health campaigns alongside scientific leaders and influencers to combat one of India’s most significant health burdens.
- Strengthening its commitment to innovation and collaboration, MSD has invested in one of India’s leading venture capital funds, HealthQuad, to advance health equity. MSD has also partnered with TheraNym for manufacturing biologics and launched IDEA Studios to partner with healthcare startups in India. Through these efforts, MSD continues to pioneer innovative healthcare solutions and partnerships that improve lives, foster equity, and create a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.
EF: Could you elaborate on MSD’s footprint in India and your current priorities and mission as Managing Director?
RK: At MSD India, we are incredibly proud of our growing footprint and impact. Today, we have a team of over 1,800 professionals and support an additional 4,200 direct and indirect jobs through our operations and partnerships.
Our health solutions span critical therapeutic areas such as diabetes, oncology, vaccines, critical care, and primary care. These products are available in over 80,000 pharmacies nationwide and directly through hospitals and prescribing physicians. Additionally, India plays a pivotal role as one of our largest sourcing hubs for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), contributing to both local production and global supply chains.
In 2022, MSD established a dedicated insights, analytics, and data center in Pune, India, to drive personalized engagement and strategic forecasting, serve as a hub for health equity work, and provide market performance analysis for our company’s business in the U.S., Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. We have made significant investments in setting up this center and have expanded the team nearly three-fold in just two years.
MSD India has been navigating one of the most transformative phases in the country’s healthcare industry. Our focus has been clear—bringing innovation to patients, bridging critical access gaps, and forging meaningful partnerships to deliver better healthcare outcomes. Uniting the team under this common mission is especially important in India, a country with diverse affordability patterns and healthcare needs.
EF: How is MSD advancing access to innovation across a vast and fragmented market like India?
RK: That’s a great question, and one we as a team are passionate about. At MSD, our mission has always been to ensure that innovation reaches patients who need it most, regardless of where they are. Given India’s diversity—1.4 billion people spread across 28 states, eight union territories, and 20+ languages—it’s a challenge, but we approach it with determination and a multi-layered strategy.
For example, take our response during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, we announced voluntary licensing agreements with eight generic manufacturers to accelerate access to Molnupiravir, an oral treatment for COVID-19. This effort allowed India to manufacture the antiviral and supply it to low- and middle-income countries. It was a moment that reinforced our belief in partnerships as a key to expanding access.
In Diabetes Care, even after Januvia, our DPP-4 inhibitor went off-patent, it remains the number one product in its category. This speaks of the trust we have built with physicians and patients. And in Oncology, our work with Keytruda has been a game-changer. From just three approved indications in 2020, Keytruda is now approved for 17 indications across ten tumor types, with financial assistance programs helping to make this life-saving treatment accessible to patients from all walks of life.
Beyond treatments, our second priority is prevention. At MSD India, we have been deeply committed to tackling HPV-related diseases and cervical cancer prevention. In fact, we were one of the first companies in India to focus on raising awareness about these conditions and how to prevent them.
Over the past two years, we've partnered with key scientific leaders, doctors, celebrities, and social media influencers to drive impactful awareness campaigns. One of our proudest collaborations has been with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India, or FOGSI, which represents nearly 44,000 OB/Gyns. This collaboration has resulted in the setting up of walk-in vaccination centers across the country, making it easier for people to access HPV vaccines.
The numbers highlight why our work is important. Cervical cancer prevention is a critical issue in India because more than 77,000 women die of this disease, and more than 100,000 are diagnosed annually. Raising awareness is the first step toward eliminating cervical cancer. We firmly believe we can move closer to our vision of a cervical cancer-free India through partnerships like the one with FOGSI and by continuing to explore ways to collaborate with the government. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every woman in the country, and we’re determined to make that vision a reality.
Our third priority is going beyond the obvious—finding newer, more innovative, and differentiated ways to better serve patients. In a country as vast and diverse as India, no single entity can do this alone. We have forged partnerships that extend across sectors. Earlier this year, we signed an agreement with TheraNym, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma, for the contract manufacturing of biologics. TheraNym will invest nearly $120 million in a biologics manufacturing facility in Telangana, India. We also invested in HealthQuad, a healthcare venture capital fund focused on advancing health equity. We drive innovation through initiatives like IDEA Studios, which supports early-stage startups delivering transformative healthcare solutions. We also have the MSD for Mothers initiative, which makes a real difference in maternal health by expanding access to quality care and preventing maternal mortality.
So, when we talk about advancing access in a market as fragmented as India, it’s about a holistic approach—partnering with governments, NGOs, startups, and private entities to create sustainable solutions. Access, affordability, and awareness are central to everything we do. Ultimately, innovation only matters if it reaches the people who need it the most.
EF: How do your operations use data to build predictive analytics systems and improve data management and efficiency?
RK: At MSD, we use data and predictive analytics to make smarter decisions and improve efficiency across our operations. India, the world’s youngest and largest country, with an average age of 28, has a significant talent pool in data, analytics, and engineering. At MSD, we’ve tapped into this potential by establishing a center in Pune that leverages this analytical expertise for India and global markets. This center plays a pivotal role in solving complex healthcare challenges, such as improving financial access by using data to identify who and where to broaden outreach efforts.
MSD has invested over $16 Mn to set up this center and has expanded its team nearly three-fold in just two years. This is helping us enhance our supply chain efficiency, ensure quality, and prioritize health equity, all while scaling our data capabilities to support our global mission.
The Pune center works across countries, therapy areas, and product lifecycles, addressing the needs of private-pay markets like India and fully reimbursed systems in Europe. The diverse skill set here reflects the incredible possibilities India’s young workforce offers.
EF: What do you believe makes MSD a unique place to work? How do you attract and retain top talent?
RK: At MSD India, we’ve made it a priority to create a workplace where integrity, creativity, knowledge, empathy, and collaboration are the values that truly set us apart. Our leadership team reflects this vision, bringing together a diverse group of individuals with backgrounds spanning pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, private equity, consulting, and even oil and gas. Many have worked across India, the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, giving us a broad pool of perspectives and experiences to shape our business.
One initiative I’m particularly proud of is the Project Management Office (PMO) program – our young talent program. This program offers a 24-month stint for young talent to work directly with MSD India’s leadership and contribute to improving access to innovative medicines. Each year, we bring in a select group of 4-5 individuals from leading consulting firms, giving them the opportunity to rotate across core business areas. This fresh injection of ideas and energy helps keep us agile in India’s fast-paced market.
Over the years, this program has been a tremendous success. Our alumni have gone on to leading business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT and joined blue-chip employers like MSD, Amazon, eBay, and McKinsey. It proves that, when given the right environment and responsibility, talent can make a real difference early in their careers.
Building a workforce for tomorrow starts today, so our ‘Boundless Possibilities’ program inspires pharmacy undergraduates by showcasing career opportunities in the pharma industry. India’s future workforce and our approach are diverse. We actively recruit from local business schools and provide unique development opportunities, like exposing women from our sales team to the startup ecosystem. Gender diversity is something we’re deeply committed to. We’ve nearly doubled the number of women in leadership roles.
We believe that talent needs to be nurtured, challenged, and supported to thrive, and we are building a culture where diverse experiences shape our business and everyone makes a difference.
EF: India is often referred to as the "pharmacy of the world." As the market evolves, where do you see India heading in this new era?
RK: India is witnessing significant shifts that are positioning the country to play an even more prominent role in global healthcare. With a 7% GDP growth rate, India is outpacing major economies like the U.S. and China, creating a strong foundation for sectors across the economy, including pharma. This rapid economic growth is expected to drive the pharma market to expand by over 10%, and key factors such as India’s growing economy, ease of doing business, and increasing investment appeal are all moving in the right direction.
In terms of patient access, India is undergoing a major transformation. Urbanization is accelerating, not just in the major cities but also in smaller towns and rural areas. However, this urban expansion also brings challenges, including an increased disease burden. While private insurance adoption is slowly rising, India remains primarily a private-pay market, which presents both challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical companies. However, the government is taking proactive steps to address these challenges, with initiatives like universal healthcare, reduced customs duties on life-saving drugs, and a push for HPV vaccination. These efforts are not only improving patient access but also making India an attractive market for healthcare investment and delivery.
On the technology front, India is making tremendous progress. With over 700 million smartphone users and more than a billion mobile connections, affordable data and smartphones are driving consumer empowerment, particularly in payments and financial inclusion. This digital transformation is creating opportunities for faster, more direct transactions and improving overall access to healthcare, further strengthening India’s position as a global hub for healthcare services.
In addition to these developments, India’s growing affluent class is playing a key role in the healthcare market. Currently, this segment spends around 6-7% of its income on healthcare, and as this group continues to grow, it is expected to drive further increases in healthcare spending. This rising demand will enhance access to therapies and support the expansion of the healthcare provider network across the country.
Medical tourism is another sector in which India excels. With half a million international patients visiting every year, India’s world-class clinical expertise and top-tier hospitals are drawing patients from regions like the Middle East, Africa, and even parts of Europe and North America. This further positions India as a global leader in healthcare delivery.
Looking ahead, the next 5-10 years will bring even more opportunities, particularly in preventive health. By investing in partnerships and leveraging government initiatives, we aim to continue creating an environment that enhances patient access, fosters innovation, and supports stronger, more inclusive healthcare policies. Ultimately, India’s future as a global healthcare leader looks incredibly promising, driven by its talent, government support, and rapid technological advancements.
EF: Do you have a final message for our readers?
RK: The Indian healthcare sector today is witnessing a pivotal moment. The government's initiatives, such as Ayushman Bharat, have provided millions of citizens with access to healthcare. The recent expansion of this program to include the elderly population is another step in the right direction. Similarly, the reduction of Basic Customs Duty on life-saving drugs and the formation of expert groups to recommend lower medical insurance rates show a commitment to making healthcare more affordable. These moves, alongside a focus on preventive health and the inclusion of HPV vaccination in the National Immunization Programme, reflect a strong foundation for a healthier future.
On the regulatory front, the government's decision to relax Phase III trial rules for drugs and therapies already available in other countries has further improved access to critical medicines. These are commendable strides towards ensuring timely access to essential treatments for our population.
But there is more to be done. Our focus must remain on preventing diseases before they occur, emphasizing early detection, healthy living, and education, ensuring that people take ownership of their health.
Let’s build a future where healthcare is a right for all.
