On July 8, 2025, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd (NNIPL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership will last for five years, until 2030. It aims to strengthen the healthcare system in India, focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly obesity.
The collaboration will involve creating educational content, developing frameworks for obesity clinics, and formulating data-driven public health policies. The two organisations will work together under three main pillars: Health System Capacity Building, Policy Advocacy, and Health Economics.
Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, highlighted the urgent need for India’s healthcare system to evolve. He stated, “This collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad will shape interventions that are research-backed, scalable, and sustainable.” He emphasised that partnerships based on evidence can lead to lasting change and improved health outcomes for millions of people.
Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIMA, expressed the importance of combining healthcare and public policy. He said, “At IIMA, we aim to apply our academic rigour to generate actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals.”
The MoU outlines research initiatives, including joint publications with government bodies and pilot outreach programmes. It will also evaluate telemedicine for managing NCDs in underserved regions. Chhavi Moodgal, CEO of the IIMA Endowment Fund, noted that such strategic partnerships reflect IIMA’s commitment to addressing public health challenges through rigorous research.
This collaboration aims to create a future-ready healthcare ecosystem in India. By aligning efforts across various sectors, the partnership between Novo Nordisk and IIM Ahmedabad sets a new benchmark in public health innovation and leadership.
The IIMA Endowment Fund played a crucial role in this partnership, facilitating connections between academic and corporate sectors. This approach aims to leverage expertise to tackle critical public health challenges like obesity through evidence-based policies.
Obesity is a growing concern in India, linked to various chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The strategic partnership aims to address these issues comprehensively. The collaboration will not only focus on treatment but also on preventative measures and education to help communities understand the risks associated with obesity.
As part of this initiative, both organisations will conduct research to assess the economic impact of obesity on individuals and the healthcare system. This data will help in formulating better policies and interventions aimed at reducing the burden of obesity.
In summary, the partnership between IIM Ahmedabad and Novo Nordisk India represents a significant step towards improving healthcare in India. It aims to integrate education, research, and policy to create effective solutions for managing obesity and other non-communicable diseases. This alliance has the potential to lead to lasting improvements in public health outcomes in India, showcasing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing complex health challenges.
As the collaboration unfolds, it will be interesting to see the impact of these initiatives on public health and obesity management in India. By focusing on sustainable and scalable solutions, IIMA and Novo Nordisk aim to set a strong foundation for future healthcare advancements in the country.