Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure on the annual theme of Health & Nutrition is on an uptrend, with an increasing thrust on meeting the healthcare and nutritional outcomes of women and children.
Governments globally strive to ensure that a sustainable healthcare system must be established nationally to improve people’s quality of life by addressing various health issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores a monumental investment in health, yet a growing wave of indifference threatens to undermine the fabr ic of our interconnected health ecosystem. As nations navigate the turbulence of polarisation and isolationism, the imperative for global health equity has never been more acute. Here, Corporate Social Responsibility’s role in the Healthcare and Nutrition of women and children becomes critical.
Among the many aspects, affordable and quality healthcare services are the government’s priorities. In India, various flagship programmes, such as Ayushman Bharat, National Health Mission (NHM) and Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (POSHAN) Abhiyaan, address the country’s emergent health and nutrition needs.
Ensuring healthy lives for all requires a strong commitment, but the benefits outweigh the cost. Healthy people are the foundation for healthy economies. Countries worldwide are urged to take immediate and decisive actions to predict and counteract ealth challenges. Health is a global agenda, and better health and nutrition status are fundamental rights of humankind.
No doubt that businesses wield considerable influence and resources, which can be mobilised to champion the cause of health equity. They can make a substantial impact through CSR initiatives, public-private partnerships and investments in health technology. By prioritising the health and well-being of all stakeholders, businesses contribute to a more equitable world and enhance their resilience and sustainability.
In the book Touching Human Lives: CSR BY CPSEs, a collection of activities by CPSEs as part of their CSR initiatives shows how each of them has touched upon the health and nutrition aspects of millions of people in India through one or more interventions, ranging from infrastructure development to improving service delivery to support the impoverished sections. ‘Project Arogya’ of GAIL (India) Limited and project ‘Niramaya’ of THDC India Limited provide essential medical services to remote villages through Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) and Health Camps. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Airports Authority of India Limited and Coal India Limited are providing critical lifesaving treatment to children, while Indian Oil Corporation Limited is providing nursing training to unemployed girls in Assam.
In the nutrition space, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has set up Anganwadi centres, while SJVN Limited provides nutrition kits to meet the dietary requirements of BPL families.
Coal India Limited (CIL) and its NLCIL subsidiaries profoundly impact community well-being, with an annual commitment of approximately ₹800 crores towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This substantial investment highlights the Coal CPSEs’ dedication to fostering people-centric development, with a special emphasis on health, education, skill development, environmental sustainability, women empowerment, and comprehensive community development.
The research from SoulAce, a CSR consulting and monitoring & evaluation firm, spanning over 100 impact assessment studies conducted in FY 2022-23, highlights that these interventions effectively reduced the burden on public healthcare institutions and strengthened India’s healthcare framework.
It has been observed that Corporates and CPSEs have focused their Health and Nutrition based CSR activities in areas having significant populations of communities belonging to Backward classes and Scheduled castes. The benefits of CSR activities, which are inclusive in nature, extend to all communities, including backward classes and Scheduled castes. Political parties and leaders have also encouraged corporate to divert their CSR funds towards healthcare and nutrition for women and children. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao recently called upon companies to donate more CSR funds towards the health sector. He urged the corporations to explore ways to ensure that CSR funds can be strategically utilised to address various healthcare challenges in the state and improve the overall healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
According to a report by SoulAce, a CSR consulting and monitoring & evaluation firm, in India, only 5% of the GDP is allocated to healthcare, which requires constant efforts and focused interventions to create impactful and long-lasting healthcare infrastructure. CSR in healthcare is vital to its progress and sustainability, and companies must strive to develop models for the same.
A detailed study and research by SoulAce reveals the positive impact of CSR initiatives in health by Indian businesses, covering over 100 impact assessment studies. These projects target diverse population groups and reduce out-of-pocket expenses, aligning with India’s commitment to SDGs. The research highlights that these interventions effectively reduced the burden on public healthcare institutions and strengthened India’s healthcare framework.
The majority of the CSR programmes by corporates in India focus on delivering healthcare services to those who cannot afford it. Hospitals assist the health of those who are less fortunate by providing free medical camps, funding medical procedures, or funding health awareness campaigns. As the social pillar of healthcare, CSR focuses on addressing social issues and inequalities in health.