MoU Signed to Strengthen India’s Healthcare Ecosystem
On July 8, 2025, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd (NNIPL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a five-year strategic partnership, extending until 2030. This collaboration aims to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem through a focused, multi-pronged approach to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a special emphasis on obesity.
Three Pillars to Drive Transformational Change
As part of this agreement, IIMA and NNIPL will co-develop and implement high-impact programmes under three central pillars:
- Health System Capacity Building
- Policy Advocacy
- Health Economics
As per the IIM Ahmedabad Press release, the partnership will focus on developing educational content, designing model frameworks for obesity clinics, and formulating data-driven public policies. In addition, the collaboration will support research on the economic impact of obesity on individuals, productivity, the healthcare system, and the broader economy.
Leadership Voices Emphasize Urgency and Impact
Speaking on the partnership, Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk India, highlighted the urgency of addressing NCDs. “India’s healthcare systems must urgently evolve to meet the rising burden of diseases like obesity. This partnership with IIMA is a crucial step toward shaping scalable, research-backed, and sustainable solutions. We believe collaborative, evidence-based interventions can truly improve health outcomes for millions.”
Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, echoed this view. “Our collaboration with Novo Nordisk India combines healthcare and public policy—two areas where rigorous research can create long-term impact. At IIMA, we are committed to generating actionable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities fighting NCDs such as obesity.”
Focus on Research, Innovation, and Outreach
The MoU includes a roadmap for collaborative research initiatives. These include publishing joint papers with government institutions, launching pilot outreach programmes, and evaluating telemedicine models to manage NCDs, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
IIMA Endowment Fund Plays a Key Role
Chhavi Moodgal, CEO of the IIMA Endowment Fund, underscored the role of institutional collaboration. “Strategic partnerships like this demonstrate IIMA’s commitment to solving complex public health issues. By combining academic strength with corporate vision, we aim to drive systemic change through rigorous research and scalable solutions. We’re proud to have facilitated this alliance.”
Building a Future-Ready Public Health Framework
This partnership signifies a bold step toward integrating education, research, and public policy to create a responsive and future-ready healthcare ecosystem in India. By aligning academic expertise with corporate action, the IIMA–Novo Nordisk collaboration sets a new benchmark for innovation and leadership in public health.
The IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF), the Institute’s unified platform for alumni, corporate, and CSR contributions, played a pivotal role in establishing this alliance. The partnership reinforces IIMA’s global vision for academic excellence and thought leadership—leveraging its intellectual capital to address pressing challenges like obesity with data-led, policy-driven solutions.