Advancing patient care through science, digital transformation, and responsible AI.
Our role is to be a trusted partner to the healthcare community—bringing science-based medical innovation and working collaboratively to help patients get timely, appropriate care, for Diplomacy&Commerce says Viktorija ZadroHuml, General Manager for Takeda in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Mrs. Zadro Huml explains in detail how important innovations are in the pharmaceutical industry, in what way and how Takeda implements all the necessary transformations from medicines to patients as well as employees.
1. How would you describe Takeda’s role in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina today?
Each market has its own structure and priorities, but the shared goal is the same: improving outcomes and supporting resilient healthcare systems. At Takeda, we focus on patient needs first, and we work with stakeholders—clinicians, institutions, patient organizations, and payers—because lasting progress happens through partnership. We also recognize that trust is built over time through consistency, transparency, and a commitment to doing things the right way.
2. “Medical innovation” is a widely used phrase. What does it mean in practical terms for patients and healthcare professionals?
For patients, innovation means hope—and very concretely, it can mean earlier diagnosis, better treatment options, improved quality of life, and potentially better long-term outcomes. For healthcare professionals, it means access to strong scientific evidence, ongoing medical education, and tools or approaches that help optimize care pathways. Importantly, innovation is not only about introducing new medicines. It also includes generation of real-world evidence, how we support disease awareness, and how we contribute to better patient journeys. The real test is impact: does it meaningfully improve care and outcomes in the real world?
3. Access and equity are key topics in the region. How does Takeda contribute to improving patient access?
Access is multi-dimensional. It includes reimbursement and system readiness, but also diagnosis, referral pathways, and awareness. We contribute by engaging constructively with stakeholders, sharing robust scientific data, and supporting dialogue that helps decision-makers evaluate value in a transparent way. We also work to understand where the patient journey breaks down—where delays happen, where information is missing, where pathways are fragmented. When we help address those gaps through collaboration, patients benefit. While no single organization can solve access challenges alone, we can be a reliable partner and bring solutions-oriented thinking.
4. Digital transformation is reshaping healthcare. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina?
I see strong opportunities in improving how information supports decisions. Healthcare generates enormous amounts of data, but it is often scattered across systems. Digital solutions that improve interoperability, reporting, and insight—while respecting privacy and governance—can help clinicians and institutions plan better and act faster. Another area is education and engagement. Digital channels can make medical information more accessible and timely, allowing healthcare professionals to engage with scientific content in a way that fits their schedules. When done responsibly and compliantly, that improves the quality of scientific exchange and supports continuous learning. And finally, digital tools can reduce administrative load. When processes are streamlined, healthcare professionals can spend more time on what matters most: patient care.
5. AI is a major global topic. What is Takeda’s perspective on AI in healthcare and in the way you work with stakeholders?
AI has significant potential—both in healthcare broadly and in how organizations operate. For us, the starting point is responsibility. AI must be used in a way that protects privacy, respects regulations, and maintains scientific rigor. Trust is essential in healthcare, and any technology must strengthen trust, not undermine it. From an operational perspective, AI can help teams manage complexity: synthesizing information, improving consistency and quality, and reducing time spent on repetitive tasks. That frees capacity for higher-value work—like deeper analysis, better planning, and more meaningful collaboration with stakeholders. In healthcare, AI’s broader promise includes supporting research, accelerating insights, and potentially improving parts of the patient journey. But it must always be evidencebased and implemented with clear governance and human oversight.
6. How do you balance speed and innovation with compliance and ethics—especially when adopting digital tools and AI?
By being clear that high ethical and compliance standards enable sustainable and trusted innovation. We build adoption on strong governance, training, and transparency. We also promote a culture where colleagues ask questions early, escalate uncertainties, and choose the most responsible path. At Takeda, our values guide this balance. We are driven by Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance, and we prioritize Patients, Trust, Reputation, and Business. Those principles matter even more when technology accelerates the pace of work. Doing the right thing is how we protect patients, partners, and the long-term credibility of science.
7. Partnership is central to progress. What does “effective partnership” look like in practice in this region?
Effective partnership begins with listening—understanding the realities of clinicians, institutions, and patient communities. It means being transparent about what we can and cannot do, and focusing on shared goals such as improved outcomes, quality care, and sustainability. It also means bringing substance: high-quality evidence, thoughtful disease area knowledge, and a commitment to long-term collaboration rather than short-term transactions. The most impactful partnerships are those where stakeholders feel respected, where expectations are clear, and where progress is measured by real-world improvements.
8. What would you like external stakeholders to know about Takeda’s presence and ambition in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina?
I would like them to know that we are here for the long term. We are committed to bringing medical innovation and working with the healthcare community to help ensure it reaches patients in a timely and responsible way. I would also emphasize that we see digital transformation and responsible AI as enablers of better health outcomes— through better decisions, better collaboration, and more efficient ways of working. Our ambition is not simply to adopt new tools, but to create measurable value for patients and healthcare systems. And finally, I want stakeholders to know that our teams in this region care deeply. They bring expertise, professionalism, and a strong patient focus—because behind every policy decision, pathway, and dataset there are people and families waiting for answers.