When I first took the position in 2020, not many believed that AstraZeneca could be the number one multinational pharmaceutical company in Indonesia, says Se Whan Chon, President Director of PT AstraZeneca, referring to IQVIA’s Market Data 2022 announcement.
At the time of his arrival from Korea, AstraZeneca Indonesia was ranked fourth.
As a leader, it was important for me to consistently instill the vision of AstraZeneca being number one and to back it up with action, he explains, emphasizing the need to guide the leadership team in making difficult yet strategic decisions for the organization and for Indonesian patients.
Leadership in Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that delivers life-changing, patient-focused medicines through research and development, innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization. The company focuses on oncology, biopharmaceuticals, rare diseases, and vaccines.
One of our major achievements is the development and launch of the AZD1222 vaccine, which played a critical role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. These vaccines were rigorously researched and tested to ensure their safety and efficacy.
As a result of our initiative, we became the most widely used vaccine in the world. In Indonesia, AstraZeneca successfully supported the country in achieving national herd immunity and ensured access to AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines free of charge. Under the leadership of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, AstraZeneca distributed 107.4 million doses of vaccines and helped prevent 93,954 deaths in Indonesia, says Se Whan Chon, citing KPMG data.
Beyond vaccine distribution, AstraZeneca remained at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. Independent analysis revealed that their vaccine, Vaxzevria, saved more than six million lives in its first year.
Our long-acting antibody combination, Evusheld, continues to play an important role in helping to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Significant Health Contributions
Beyond its role in the pandemic, AstraZeneca has achieved multiple medical breakthroughs.
Our LABA asthma medications have revolutionized asthma management by providing patients with effective, long-lasting relief from asthma symptoms, says Se Whan Chon.
AstraZeneca has also made significant contributions through its Young Health Programme, which has reached over nine million youths in 39 countries with education on non-communicable disease risk behaviors. The 10 Fingers Campaign has raised awareness about ovarian cancer, while the Lung Ambition Alliance is a global initiative aimed at improving lung cancer survival rates. Additionally, AstraZeneca has worked on Vaccine Confidence and Immunocompromised programs to increase vaccine awareness and accessibility.
In 2017, AstraZeneca partnered with the Indonesian Ministry of Health to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, launching preventive healthcare initiatives. This partnership has since expanded to support Indonesia’s Health System Transformation agenda through AstraZeneca’s health promotions, disease prevention strategies, non-communicable disease management, and digital healthcare innovations.
Sustainability and Social Responsibility
AstraZeneca is committed to tackling global challenges beyond healthcare, including climate change.
As part of its flagship corporate social responsibility efforts, AstraZeneca launched the AZ Forest program in 2020 in collaboration with Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs and NGO partners One Tree Planted and Trees4Trees. Since then, over four million trees have been planted on 21,000 hectares of land in West Java, benefiting approximately 20,000 farming families across 240 villages.
Our AZ Forest program is part of our work to address climate change, together with our Ambition Zero Carbon strategy. We recognize the strong connection between a healthy planet and healthy people, and we work to foster environments in which all life can thrive. Trees are a nature-based solution to remove CO2 and are essential to mitigating the effects of climate change, explains Se Whan Chon.
Through its focus on healthcare innovation, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility, AstraZeneca continues to lead the way in improving lives and making health happen.
