GCCs tap India’s talent pool to offer better healthcare solutions – Healthcare News

When Bristol Myers Squibb, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, was looking to expand its India operations beyond the R&D facility in Bengaluru, it zeroed in on Hyderabad for its global capability centre (GCC). Now operational, it is serving as an innovation hub for drug development and IT capabilities, drawing on the scientific and technology talent in the region. “We currently have about 2,000 employees at our Hyderabad site, who are playing key roles in helping us bring more medicines to patients faster,” said Mohit Dhingra, managing director, Hyderabad, Bristol Myers Squibb. The company has invested over $100 million in the creation of this facility.

Similarly, Novo Nordisk’s Global Business Services (NN GBS) centre in Bengaluru employs over 4,300 employees across more than 17 global functions and serves as a key value creator for the company across the whole value chain. “With over 1,000 colleagues working in R&D, the team is involved in supporting drug development and innovation for the company. In other functions, we are handling marketing & digital marketing, health economics, data analytics, quality, HR for the globe. In addition, we support global financial & IT processes with 2,000 colleagues in these two functions,” said John Dawber, corporate vice president & managing director of Novo Nordisk GBS.

With plans to further expand its AI capabilities and strengthen collaborations with Indian startups, Novo Nordisk is looking to capitalise on India’s tech talent and innovative ecosystem to drive global success in diabetes care and other chronic diseases, Dawber said. According to him, the deep talent pool, and robust digital ecosystem positions India as a prime destination for global pharmaceutical companies seeking to establish GCCs. Furthermore, India’s expertise in critical areas such as research and development, data sciences, artificial intelligence and supply chain are essential for advancing healthcare solutions globally.

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Novartis established its GCC, now known as the Novartis Corporate Centre (NOCC), in Hyderabad nearly two decades ago, pioneering the concept. Today, NOCC India stands as the largest of its six global centres, with nearly 8,000 associates. The facility has been supporting the advancements in Novartis’s pipeline of investigational medicines. It supports global development projects, contributing to the clinical trials and regulatory submissions necessary for bringing new treatments to patients. “With the thrust on talent development and focus on new skills/ technologies in evolving fields like data analytics, AI and digital transformation, NOCC India has carved out a distinct niche at Novartis,” a company spokesperson said.

India’s attractiveness as a GCC destination has grown exponentially with over 1700+ GCCs today, employing more than 1.5 million professionals, as per a recent Zinnov-Nasscom report. Pharmaceutical industry makes up 6% of the GCC footprint with about 38 GCCs that employ around 80,000 people. In the context of the pharma sector, it’s safe to say that India is no longer just the pharmacy of the world; it is rapidly emerging as a hub of pharma innovation, feels Anil Matai, director-general, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).

“Global pharmaceutical companies have established GCCs in India which serve as centres of excellence for drug discovery, formulation development, and healthcare solutions, while also supporting a strong ecosystem by employing talent and increasing the knowledge base. These centres are at the forefront of cutting-edge research, clinical trials, and drug development, significantly contributing to the global R&D efforts of their parent companies” he added.

Matai said that Bayer’s Hyderabad centre has emerged as a key Asia Pacific hub as India has a significant talent pool to support global drug development and manufacturing initiatives. GSK’s GCC in Bengaluru employs over 2,500 people in global business operations and R&D, with more than 50% focusing on R&D in areas like safety science, regulatory, biostatistics, clinical operations, and more. Similarly Pfizer’s Global Drug Development Centre in Chennai has emerged as a powerhouse of innovation, propelling the company’s quest for groundbreaking medical solutions. “The future of these hubs in India’s pharmaceutical sector appears promising,” he added.

In Matai’s opinion, GCCs in India leverage the country’s strong scientific talent and advanced technological infrastructure to conduct high-impact research. “The presence of top-tier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), and numerous specialised biotech parks provide a fertile ground for innovation. These institutions often collaborate with pharmaceutical companies on various R&D projects, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology,” he added.

“Since our inception, the Global Innovation & Technology Centre (GITC) in Chennai has evolved from providing traditional IT services to becoming an engine of AstraZeneca’s digital journey, driving productivity, simplification, technology delivery and innovation across the company’s global operations, supporting the delivery of life-changing medicines to patients worldwide,” said Siva Padmanabhan MD & head of GITC, AstraZeneca India. “We are expanding across various business areas, hiring talents in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to support the expansion of newer areas such as clinical data insights, supply chain and business analytics across our value chain to name a few,” he added.

QUOTES
John Dawber, corporate VP & MD, Novo Nordisk GBS
India’s expertise in R&D, data sciences, AI and supply chain are essential for advancing healthcare solutions globally

Siva Padmanabhan, MD & head of GITC, AstraZeneca India
GCCs are taking on more strategic roles, including research & development, digital transformation & business process innovation

Mohit Dhingra, MD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Hyderabad
We have invested over $100 million in our Hyderabad centre, which now houses about 2000 employees

Anil Matai, Director-general, OPPI
The foundation of a thriving GCC model in India is the nation’s abundant talent pool and expanding knowledge economy

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