The Beginning
Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta, the founder and chairman of Torrent Group, founded in 1959, today´s one of the leading pharmaceuticals companies in India, was an Indian businessman. He was born Mehmadpur village in Palanpur district, India. Uttambhai wanted to establish a pharma business that would be distinctive and not so competitive in the market to take his company to a higher level so he chose to do the business of selling psychotropic drugs that could be a helping hand to all the psychiatrists. One of Torrent Pharma’s earliest products launched in 1970 was Trinicalm Plus which was used in the treatment of ailments related to the central nervous system which turned out to be a blockbuster.
The company now sells drugs for the treatments of various diseases related to cardiovascular (CV), central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal (GI) and also women healthcare (WHC). The company also has a substantial presence in diabetology, pain management, gynaecology, oncology and anti-infective sections. The company from the beginning had the goal to sell the best medicines at affordable prices to all its patients. With the remarkable journey, the company Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd is ranked 8th in the Indian Pharmaceuticals Market which is a huge matter of appreciation to all the friendly workers and supporters of the company.
Next Generation
The company is now headed by U.N Mehta’s sons Sudhir Mehta chairman emeritus of Torrent Pharma and brother Samir Mehta, who is executive chairman. They believe that chemistry is the core of their business which has taken their company to reach great heights which had a revenue of US$1.1 billion in 2020. The company is not only leading in India but it also engages globally for many years in more than 40 countries including top countries like the USA, UK, Europe, Africa, Russia and many more which has over 2000 product registrations globally. It has 8 manufacturing plants and more than 800 scientists working with them. The company is also the largest Indian generic drug manufacturer in countries like Brazil, Germany and the Philippines. The torrent pharmaceuticals company has 20 subsidiaries in different states and countries.
Torrent group also had its ways through many downs in the 1980s when Uttambhai partnered with the Soviet Union but never gave up in their journey. The business and marketing strategy of UTTAMBHAI was working in favour of the company until the country broke apart in the 1990s making a huge loss of 70% of its business. After going through many hardships the Mehta brothers Sudhir and Samir made their way up from growing their business again and making it expand globally. Securing and approvals for new drugs in the US, and a couple more strategic decisions of the company members, have made Torrent one of the fastest and finest growing drug manufacturers in India. The hard work and the efforts of the 2 brothers and their employees and supporters are truly worth appreciating and worth getting recognized by the nation.
In the company from the senior executives, board members to the directors all have the freedom to make decisions that are in the best interest of the company maintaining a friendly atmosphere between all.
Chaitanya Dutt, Torrent Pharma’s director for research and development, has remained with the company since 1987. “If there is a quality issue with a particular package and I decide that it has to be thrown down the vent, it is thrown down the drain,” he says.
The professionalism with which the committee of Torrent Pharma role is remarkable” says Khaitan. “No matter how big or small a decision is, it is discussed with all, by Sudhir and Samir themselves. They are open to recommendations and while they take their own decisions, they do so after taking everyone’s views into account.”
Philanthropic Side
Beyond running and managing these successful businesses by providing the best drugs, the company is also helping society develop and well being. The Torrent Care has a cardiac hospital UNMICRC in Ahmedabad, India, a child healthcare programme REACH, a community healthcare centre SWADHAR and many more other healthcare initiatives at different places in Gujarat. Shiksha Setu: Learning Enhancement Programme commenced in 2011 aspires to improve the quality of learning among students in the field of primary education. In 8 years, the programme has reached 26 primary schools in Gujarat, 250+ teachers and more than 8000 students and 3500+ parents from economically disadvantaged sections of the rural communities and urban slums. There are also 4 schools managed by torrent associates which help more than 3900 students in getting the best education. Moreover, the company is also helping and making better the mother nature by growing trees and plants more and more and minimizing the use of gas, water and electricity.
Even in such a tough covid pandemic time, Torrent group is staying ahead in helping the people, the society and the government by donating a large sum of Rs. 100 crores in PM care funds and also by providing free essential medicines and PPE kits, free of costs to the government hospitals. The company is also contributing to State government relief funds and NGO´s to make people aware of it and reduce the chances of transmissions by doing so. All the members and employees of the company are working day and night to help all the needy people in these COVID-19 crises.
References
1. Aveek Datta, 2016, Torrent Pharma finds the right formula for business growth, Forbes India
(Author of the article Khushi Masarani. Khushi is independent writer & blogger in space of Healthcare & life sciences. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author in his private capacity)
