Working with an NGO in Himachal Pradesh as a consultant from American India Foundation in 2007, Sarah Hine could see herself playing a more active role on the Indian soil. The absence of safe drinking water, safe cooking methods and other basic needs of life in the hills made Sarah question her “typical bank job” back in the U.S. “I just wanted to test the possibility. I thought perhaps there was a role for me to play,” recalls Sarah, who finally after one year in 2008, chose India over Africa, and began PharmaSecure.
“Our company sells codes to the manufacturers which are printed on the medicine. The customer who wants to know if it's a real or a fake drug, hesmses the code to us. The idea is to ensure that patients receive quality medicine,” explains Sarah. India also scored on account of being one of the biggest pharmaceutical industries in the world.
“Even though there have been a lot of obstacles, what has kept us motivated is our end goal and how it is going to affect the people. There are guidelines but the process is very unclear, so for me the challenge is anticipating what is required in India. The rules, laws…sometimes they are applied randomly,” says Sarah. And even though sales cycle has been slow, Sarah is optimistic. She says, India has taught her two important things; patience and faith.
She is still involved in community development programmes in Himachal Pradesh providing consultancy to NGOs and content to websites working towards community building. The hills beckon her even otherwise. “I love the mountains. I am an outdoor person and the kind of natural opportunities India provides is unparallel. So I go skiing, rock climbing very often. I see myself in a long-term relationship with India,” says Sarah.
