HEALTHCARE FOR TRUCKING COMMUNITY

Aligned to SDG Goals 

No.3 : Good Health and Well-being

Health constitutes a critical element of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and serves as a primary intervention area within the sustainability roadmap of Apollo Tyres. The trucking community, as both end-users of the Company’s products and essential partners in its growth, is a fundamental component of its healthcare initiatives, which fall under the realm of social and relationship capital.

Apollo Tyres places significant emphasis on health and actively engages with its customers within the trucking community in this essential domain. To effect meaningful change at the grassroots level, the Company has developed outcome-based programs that not only enhance the wellness of the community but also contribute positively to the surrounding environment.

In recognition of the health challenges faced by the trucking community, Apollo Tyres launched a comprehensive healthcare program in 2001, aligned with Sustainable Development Goal No. 3 - Good Health and Well-being. Currently, the initiative encompasses 34 Healthcare Centres that operate from transhipment hubs and extend their services across 21 Indian states.

Key Services:

1. HIV-AIDS Awareness & Prevention

The trucking community is significantly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to challenging working conditions, socio-economic disparities, and certain behavioural patterns. In response to these pervasive issues, Apollo Tyres launched an HIV awareness and prevention program in 2001. This initiative provides a comprehensive array of services tailored for truck drivers. Key components of the program encompass Behaviour Change Communication (BCC), the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), counselling services, and the promotion of condom use. These efforts are strengthened by the establishment of integrated Counselling Testing Centres (ICTC) and awareness initiatives conducted by Peer Educators, who serve as trained volunteers in the field.

Peer Educators play a crucial role in the success of health programmes. The outreach initiative has engaged over 1,149 Peer Educators, including mechanics, restaurant owners, barbers, and street vendors at key transshipment hubs, effectively targeting beneficiaries and enhancing programme impact. Additionally, Apollo Tyres has integrated members of the LGBTQIA+ community into its health program as employees and peer educators. In FY25, 102 transgender individuals served as peer volunteers across 34 locations.

2. Vision Care

Apollo Tyres recognises vision impairment as a critical health issue in the trucking community and has partnered with Essilor India Pvt. Ltd (2.5 New Vision Generation- NVG) to launch a strong vision care initiative. This program offers effective doorstep solutions and features state-of-the-art vision testing facilities at healthcare centers, along with periodic testing camps at transshipment hubs. Over 110,000 beneficiaries have received vision screenings, with around 65,698 identified with refractive errors, and more than 9,515 have received spectacles, significantly improving vision care in the trucking community.

3.Awareness on Tuberculosis (TB)

The Company, through its CSR arm, Apollo Tyres Foundation, has established 17 Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) at strategic transshipment hubs to provide vital testing and treatment services for tuberculosis (TB). This initiative is in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Central TB Division), the Union, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In FY25, over 21,682 individuals accessed these services, of which 301 beneficiaries tested positive for TB. Importantly, 93% of the beneficiaries with confirmed cases were successfully linked to DOTs facilities, thereby facilitating their treatment process.

4. Other Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs)

Extended working hours and sedentary lifestyles significantly predispose truck drivers to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and hypertension. In response to this pressing concern, the Company, through its foundation, has initiated comprehensive screening programs for diabetes and blood pressure at its healthcare centres. In FY25, approximately 79,688 beneficiaries participated in diabetes screening, resulting in the identification of 15,268 individuals with diabetes. This initiative underscores the Company’s commitment to promoting the health and well-being of truck drivers.

5. Mobile Medical Units (Apollo Tyres Healthcare Express)

Mobile medical units are established in key locations frequented by truck drivers, including truck halt points, highways, and district borders. These units aim to deliver timely healthcare services to this specific demography. Currently, these units are operational in Delhi, Cuttack (Odisha), and Ranchi (Jharkhand).

6.Oral Hygiene

High addiction to tobacco (smoking and chewing) and poor oral hygiene is a major health risk, among truck drivers. Apollo Tyres began the oral hygiene services in FY20 with dedicated initiatives to spread awareness and encourage oral care.

7. Tele Medicine Consultation

When COVID-19 impacted physical healthcare services worldwide, Apollo Tyres initiated Tele Medicine Consultation facility, in partnership with Telerad Foundation, for the trucking community, across all 32 healthcare centres. Under this service, patients could avail online doctor consultation and collect medicines from the centres.

THE APOLLO IMPACT