On Saturday, Arjun Deshpande, founder and CEO of Generic Aadhaar, paid a befitting tribute to his mentor Ratan Tata on the latter‘s birth anniversary. In order to pay homage to the iconic industrialist, Deshpande distributed free cancer medicines among 87 patients and declared that he would continue with the effort in the forthcoming year.
Keeping Ratan Tata’s Vision Alive
Deshpande shared on Instagram his commitment to making cancer medicines affordable for every Indian, a cause Ratan Tata cared so much about. “On the 87th birthday of my mentor, Ratan Sir, I feel grateful to keep my promise and work towards his dream of making cancer medicines accessible to all,” Deshpande wrote.
Video embedded in the post featured Deshpande dispensing drugs and speaking to cancer patients. “He said his goal is to make affordable medicines, which is part of Tata’s vision of bringing life-saving treatments to a wider populace, not exclusive to a few.“.
A Year-Long Initiative for Cancer Patients
In addition to providing free medicines to 87 patients, Deshpande announced that Generic Aadhaar would supply cancer medicines at cost price to all patients for the next year. The initiative has garnered widespread praise, with many calling him a “real gem of India” for his impactful efforts.
Revolutionising Healthcare Access
Generic Aadhaar, which Deshpande started in 2018 when he was just 16 years old, is giving the pharmaceutical industry a rude shock by cutting out middlemen such as marketers and distributors. Thecompany can sell medicines at a very low cost since they are of very good quality, often priced 80-90% cheaper.
The company, CNBC reported in 2023, has over 2,000 outlets across India, employs more than 10,000 people, and is valued at ₹500 crore.
A Tribute to a Visionary
Deshpande‘s tribute reflects the timelessness of Ratan Tata‘s vision for equitable health care, which continues to inspire. By advancing the mission of Tata, Deshpande is making tremendous strides in addressing one of India’s most pressing challenges: affordable cancer care.
