Astrazeneca (Thailand)

Resistance-proofing the future

AstraZeneca (Thailand) Ltd (AZTH) was registered in Thailand in 1983 and is part of AstraZeneca, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company which operates in over 100 countries, that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines. AZTH focus on leadership in three main therapy areas: Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), Respiratory, Immunology, Vaccines and Immune Therapies (RIVIT). There are more than 20 medicines in the company portfolio, and over 1M patients take our medicines in Thailand on an annual basis.

AZTH has a bold vision to make health happen for the people of Thailand. From disease awareness, early diagnostics, improving the access and availability of innovative medicines alongside ensuring that we contribute to a sustainable environment. Over the last 40 years, the company have been committed to creating access to innovative medicines, improving access to healthcare and innovations to improve outcomes.  

AZTH has kept engagement with the community close to their hearts. AZTH, in collaboration with Plan International Thailand, drives the Young Health Programme (YHP), a global disease prevention programme focusing on young people that aims to prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and mental ill health.

In line with the global YHP Theory of Change, the programme is implemented using four key inter-related and reinforcing strategies, which are empowering young people, mobilizing communities, strengthening health systems and advocating for policy change. This model ensures that AZTH is not just working with young people in isolation, but also strengthening the systems and structures in their environment, which contribute to their health and well-being.

Delivered in partnership with Plan International and UNICEF and backed by research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, YHP was founded in 2010 as AstraZeneca’s global community investment initiative; with their employees providing volunteer support for many of the programmes. The YHP in Thailand is a five-year programme that started in July 2019, and the achievements so far include Peer Educator Capacity Building Program, increase community knowledge and awareness on NCDs, social media campaign for the engagement of indirect beneficiaries, and strengthen youth-friendly health services  

For YHP Thailand, the direct beneficiaries of the program are 75,000 young people, aged between 10 and 24 years old, from the target districts in the Greater Bangkok area and Samutprakan. To name a few, from July 2019 – June 2022, it reached over 3.5 million young people and over 2.1 million adults on social media campaign. Additionally, it also reached 50,345 young people through Peer Educator and YHP school health programs, empowered 2,185 teachers through training, and reached 7,582 parents and caregivers through online and onsite learning sessions.

Reiterating AZTH’s commitment to make a positive impact to society, the programme ultimately aims to support the development of protective environments and empower young people to make informed choices about their health.

Quote:

Shanggari Balakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer, MORS Group

AZTH’s Young Health Programme aims to support the development of protective environments and empower young people to make informed choices about their health by addressing the concerns and need for awareness on the prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases.