Private sector engagement

Abi Global Health is committed to building equitable and resilient health systems by making professional healthcare as easy to access as advice from a friend. Our AI-powered telehealth technology ensures that everyone, regardless of location, language or income, can access a healthcare professional via their phone. Today, Abi enables millions of people globally to connect with healthcare professionals providing rapid, trusted advice in under 25 seconds. We recognize that digital health is not a substitute for investment in traditional healthcare infrastructure. However, by building telehealth technology that can expand access to timely healthcare guidance, Abi helps reduce pressure on overstretched health systems, supports frontline providers, and ensures that no one is left behind in the journey toward universal health coverage and global health security.

Amref Enterprises Limited (AEL) has embraced social entrepreneurship as a mechanism that combines the efficiency of the entrepreneurial private sector with the welfare orientation of the public sector. AEL has positioned itself to strengthen the primary health care system as part of an important ingredient for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa. AEL contributed to UHC through developing, incubating and accelerating innovative mobile technology solutions for training, health financing and data collection. AEL also increases access to quality, affordable health services and products through public private partnership like community pharmacies and points of care and improving public health facilities.

At Apollo we recognized the urgency to invest in public health almost four decades ago and are now looking at strengthening our engagement with like-minded institutions working towards advancing universal health coverage as part of achieving sustainable development goals. Apollo has dedicated 5% of its Tier 2 hospital beds for free treatment of underprivileged populations under several state health insurance schemes. Through Apollo’s Total Health Programme, we are providing integrated health care to over 70,000 people. And through innovations such as a mobile clinic program and digital health solutions, we have screened more than 6 million people under our NCDs Get Active initiative. Apollo Remote and Tele-Healthcare are complementing cost-effective, quality health care solutions in rural, suburban and semi urban areas as well as in remote locations in the Himalayas. We have carried out 1.6 million tele-consultations.

AstraZeneca supports the universal health coverage outcomes of financial protection and access to quality health services for all. We are working towards a future where everyone can access sustainable health care solutions, specifically life-changing treatments and prevention. Our mission is to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. We support investments in health systems around the world to ensure that our medicines are available to the people who need them. We also address affordability to enable access to our medicines. Through screenings, awareness programs and trainings for health care professionals, we seek to support access to disease prevention and treatment.

To strengthen health care systems in the developing world, BD Global Health makes critical technologies available on an affordable basis. These products – including diagnostic tools and medical devices – improve the rational use of medicine and delivery of healthcare in resource-limited settings. We leverage BD talent and capabilities to help strengthen health systems and improve clinical practices, in partnership with leading public sector organizations. We collaborate with organizations to develop and launch innovations to address unmet needs in areas such as TB, HIV, maternal and newborn health, cancer and antimicrobial resistance. 

Common Health is a purpose-driven business that uses digital and mobile technology to advance universal health coverage. More than half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, more than a billion people have risk factors for non-communicable diseases, and 800 million families face financial hardship due to the cost of medical care. Common Health addresses these challenges through four integrated platforms: health insurance and payments, primary health care, health engagement, and provider networks. Each of these components leverages mobile phone infrastructure – now reaching five billion people around the globe – to transform health care delivery, change behaviors, and drive long-term impact. Incorporated in the United States with a hub in Kuala Lumpur, Common Health works to make quality health care more accessible for people across low- and middle-income countries, beginning in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Dimagi is a certified Benefit Corporation and leading social enterprise, working since 2002 towards our vision of a world where everyone has access to the services they need to thrive. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and with teams in India, South Africa, Senegal and around the world, Dimagi partners with governments and NGOs to amplify their impact through scalable digital solutions and expert services. 

Dimagi recognizes that achieving universal health coverage will require substantial strengthening and expansion of frontline services. This, in turn, will require financially sustainable, scalable digital solutions that are suitable for use by frontline workers, who often live in the communities they serve. Dimagi's open-source, offline-capable flagship product, CommCare, was built for and with frontline workers to unlock the potential of programs offering case management, decision support, training and supervision. CommCare is used in 130 countries by hundreds of thousands of frontline workers. An evidence base of more than 80 peer-reviewed publications demonstrates that CommCare improves frontline worker performance, quality of care delivered, and client health outcomes. 

Fullerton Health supports universal health coverage across the Asia Pacific region by delivering affordable and accessible care through our healthcare facilities. We have a strong focus on primary care and population health management in the healthcare value chain, as we believe a robust primary care sector is the foundation for healthcare accessibility. We invest in health systems strengthening through building capacity and capability across the Asia-Pacific region. We also collaborate with public and private organizations to deliver the societal and commercial benefits of integrated care to patients.

GE Healthcare’s Primary & Referral Care – Africa initiative designs and implements integrated primary healthcare delivery models comprised of appropriate technologies; training and capacity building of healthcare workers, including task shifting; and regular monitoring and evaluation to improve access to quality and affordable care where access to quality healthcare is limited or non-existent. Through the initiative, communities in the remotest parts of Africa now have access to healthcare services that enable early detection and timely management of maternal and newborn health complications, non-communicable diseases, and safe surgery, in some cases for the first time. 

To-date, along with partners, we have 19 programs in 7 countries. Over 150,000 expectant women and newborns have been directly impacted, and over 1,500 healthcare workers, including midwives and nurses, have been trained. We will continue working with all relevant stakeholders to implement at-scale, evidence-based primary health care programs to inform contextualized benefits package designs continent-wide.

The GHA – German Health Alliance supports its member entities to be successful and to contribute to health systems strengthening and global health with top-quality health solutions in the international context. Our membership consists of entities from different actor groups in health and is multi-sectoral. Many of these companies, NGOs and academia are engaging in projects to strengthen the universal health coverage and optimize outcomes, such as financial protection, affordability and accessibility of essential health services without discrimination. GHA aims to strengthen the German healthcare sector with regards to the international competition. We advocate for the improvement of framework conditions, better chances of market entry and positioning German entities as partners for efficient, adequate and sustainable healthcare solutions. Our statement for a stronger political commitment to achieve universal health coverage is directed towards German national and international politicians.

We believe the private sector can play a significant role in achieving universal health coverage. To this end, GSK stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and equitable approach to achieving universal health coverage. GSK is committed to supporting the realization of the SDG target to achieve universal health coverage globally by 2030 through our business activities of making our medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products available. We also contribute through our partnerships focused on capacity building and health systems strengthening. Specifically, GSK published a set of 13 commitments describing the actions we will take to help deliver societal value and build trust. In this way, GSK stands ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and equitable approach to achieving universal health coverage.

DITTA supports the improvement of quality of care by continuously innovating medical technologies to provide products and services which are safer, more effective and affordable. Moreover, to ensure that all medical electronic equipment provided at the global level is of high quality, safe and effective, DITTA contributes to international standards, particularly in countries which do not have regulatory frameworks for medical devices. To ensure the financial protection of people in need of healthcare, our company works with several financial institutions to enable the private sector to provide the right technologies to governments and respond to their specific demands. Also, to improve access to affordable technologies and avoid possible corruption, DITTA is working on new financing models.

The Global Self-Care Federation advocates for increased practice of responsible self-care as a means of easing the burden of overstretched health systems, demonstrating long-term savings for governments and healthcare systems across the world, enabling better use of resources, and helping to achieve universal health coverage. The practice of responsible self care can recognize the strengths of individuals as active agents of their own health, and not merely passive recipients of health services. Rational use of self-care is essential in moving the healthcare system from disease management to prevention, by encouraging individuals to adopt preventative measures and interventions.

The HFN reiterates its commitment to ensuring continuous support for the development of models that can help to prevent catastrophic levels of health spending as a result of seeking for quality healthcare. For instance, this can be done by bringing on board the relevant stakeholders to develop and implement financial protection models/frameworks through the institution of demand-side financing policies and by implementing  insurance for beneficiaries who are unable to access healthcare. Our actions to promote quality health care services and safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and health products for all include:  

• Advocating and developing plans for the creation of an enabling environment to provide quality healthcare 
• Developing initiatives on supply-side financing from the perspective of all stakeholders, lessors and lessees, considering issues such as interest rates, the need for dedicated equipment and healthcare products, leasing funds, etc. 
• The development of the initiatives and a framework around demand-side financing  
• Advocating for the establishment of an effective referral system and enabling access to care 
• Exploring innovative and disruptive public/private partnerships 

Healthsetgo is India's pioneering school health organization, nurturing a healthy, disease-free future for India by inculcating healthy habits from a young age at schools and providing access to preventive healthcare. Driven by the vision of 'Every Child Healthy', we provide access to quality, affordable healthcare to families in urban settings and living below the poverty line the school environment in India. Our programs involve conducting annual preventive medical health checkups at schools on various parameters through a team of doctors to identify early-stage health risks in children from 2 to 17 years. To date we have detected 300,000 unseen conditions that were directly affecting the quality of life of children, and using our proprietary health technology, have linked them to recommendations and the nearest treatment centers. By providing data-driven medical reports, we have empowered parents, schools and governments to make timely interventions. We would be happy to share learnings and best practices with the constituency, if and when required, as well as to attend various forums for discussions to present a youth point of view which is required for universal health coverage. Conversely, we would be happy to implement other global best practices for universal health coverage across our beneficiaries in India. We are constantly working with the Indian Government and regulatory ecosystem to drive universal health coverage in policy and in implementation.

Henry Schein aims to positively impact health around the world by aligning our strengths as a business with the needs of society.  The idea of "doing well by doing good" is exemplified by our corporate social responsibility program, Henry Schein Cares. As a business, we engage our five constituents in a "Higher Ambition" model of building deep trust-based relationships driven by a sense of purpose and accountability. As a corporate citizen, we utilize these relationships to improve sustainability and expand access to health care. Through numerous partnerships and health care product donations to non-governmental organizations, health care professional associations, health care professionals and community-based programs focused on prevention, wellness and treatment; disaster preparedness and relief; and capacity building of health institutions that provide training and care, Henry Schein helps increase access to care in communities around the world.

Our contributions to health systems strengthening, improving primary care and enhancing health workforce capacity all are significant elements to supporting better access to quality healthcare services and treatments, and in turn, universal health coverage.

The pharmaceutical companies of JPMA are contributing to the achievement of the universal health coverage through capacity building in developing countries and regions. For example, where shortage of doctors and nurses, poor infrastructure, and lack of disease awareness are major barriers to accessing medicines, the industry has responded by training health workers, introducing mobile medical services, running disease awareness programs, etc.

We are firmly committed to doing our part, in partnership with others, to ensure the promise of universal health coverage becomes a reality for patients, families and communities around the world. Doing so requires a mix of global and country-specific programs as well as policy-shaping work. Around the world we support more than hundreds of health-related programs and we strive through these to align with government priorities, advocating with both local and central government for quality healthcare workers, especially for women and children.

40 to 70% of healthcare expenditure in Kenya goes to pharmaceuticals. To shield consumers from unaffordable healthcare, the cost of pharmaceuticals has to be controlled. The Association of Pharmaceutical Industry is on track to control the prices and offload the burden from the patient by having a standardized model of practice that reduces unnecessary costs in the medicine supply chain. This model of practice, branded Greencross, aggregates supply, cuts down the number of duplicate products, and ensures adequately trained personnel in each member pharmacy. This guarantees the quality of both the product and the service.

Mamotest has developed a system to exponentially increase access to health care while reducing time and costs. Mamotest installs state-of-the-art mammographs and operates to improve access for women living in remote areas. It is estimated that each Mamotest center saves 1 millon dollars to the public health sector. By supporting the installation and operation of mammographs in remote areas and investing in health care workforce trainings to provide timely and quality results, Mamotest enables early diagnosis of breast cancer and reduces treatment costs. 

Formalized in 2016, Medtronic Labs maximizes social impact alongside financial sustainability. Medtronic Labs designs healthcare delivery service models with and for underserved communities that integrate digital and product technologies across the patient care continuum. To amplify our impact and reach, we partner with local tech entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders. Our programs are focused on providing high quality and effective care through technology-enabled service delivery models. Our commercial programs currently include Shruti and Empower Health. Within our innovative pipeline we have two programs, Prema and Maisha Mapya. Through our current programs, global partnerships and pilot projects, we have expanded access for over half a million people throughout South Asia and Africa – and our work is just beginning.

We believe that universal health coverage is the catalyst for the transition to a global public health 4.0 at scale. Our aim is to strengthen the fabric and foundation of local health systems. We do this in two ways. Firstly, by helping governments and institutions articulate their universal health coverage ambitions into concrete plans, and find answers to questions such as what to prioritize in the short-and mid term, what competencies to get around the table or where to find them, and how to qualify and manage risks in the universal health coverage context. Secondly, by driving holistic and more integrated solutions to local health systems before the next waves of health crises hit. To achieve this, we work with diverse teams of professionals and partners to bridge cultural or communication gaps to consumers and introduce a truly international perspective to drive optimal outcomes in local health systems. 

As a global health care company that is committed to improving health and well-being around the world, sustainable development target 3 (good health and well-being) is a core of our business and is aligned with our mission to save and improve lives. We [also] recognize that barriers to quality care and medical treatment – such as lack of trained health care professionals, weak infrastructure, political uncertainty, civil strife, and a shortage of safe water in many parts of the world – make even basic health care delivery difficult at best. These challenges go well beyond what we can directly address alone, so we work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to improve the global health ecosystem.

We are developing innovative public-private financing mechanisms that prevent catastrophic health expenses for individuals and provide access to group-based primary and secondary preventive health services. We have also developed and continue to refine telehealth software and hardware solutions that couple longitudinal behavior change programs with a telehealth screening, diagnosis, consultation and management platform.

Through the ‘Health In Your Hands’ initiative, our main focus is on addressing healthcare, health promotion and prevention for those at the ‘last mile’ - meaning neglected people (marginalized groups such as refugees and mental health patients), neglected places ( remote locations or places with no access to health services and infrastructure) and neglected health problems (issues for which traditional public health national expenditures are not fully allocated, such as essential surgery and mental health).

Novartis Social Business (NSB) supports global public health through novel sustainable business models. Our activities are rooted in local communities, where we work with partners to provide affordable, high-quality medicines against infectious and chronic diseases while strengthening healthcare capacity.

Through our Access to Insulin Commitment, Novo Nordisk offers low-cost insulin to 78 least developed and low- and middle-income countries, as well as to select humanitarian organizations. Knowing that it takes more than medicine to manage diabetes, we are furthermore partnering to build capacity and strengthen healthcare systems through a number of programs and support provided by the World Diabetes Foundation.

OPPI advocates for mobilizing resources equitably and efficiently to ensure everyone can get the heath care they need without fear of financial hardship. OPPI has also continuously demonstrated the social and economic benefits of universal health coverage for a diverse country like India and is devoted to building higher political commitment for the same.

The value of mobility devices reaches far beyond medical health. Helping people with disabilities to restore mobility and protect the mobility they have retained enables them to participate actively in economic and social life. Therefore, Ottobock is working with cross- and multisectoral stakeholders to include mobility devices and related services in universal health coverage, thus making them accessible and affordable for all.

Pfizer believes in the promise of universal health coverage.  We recognize that access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines is a critical component of universal health coverage, and that, as an innovative pharmaceutical company, we have an important role to play in helping to deliver on this target. We therefore commit to helping to accelerate equitable and sustainable progress towards universal health coverage by tackling affordability and access head on. Pfizer is committed to addressing patient affordability and access globally. As part of a series of bold moves, we have challenged ourselves to dramatically increase the number of patients that have access to our medicines.  To do this, we are exploring new business models such as linking reimbursement to the performance of our medicines and paying for specialty medicines over time. We are also involved in several pilots looking at more significant changes to pricing and reimbursement models. We are committed to working closely with stakeholders and governments to accelerate these changes and improve overall access.

Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) recognizes that pharmacists are strategically placed as primary caregivers, since most healthcare seekers turn to the pharmacy as the first point of contact with the health system. Involved in the entire medicines value chain from manufacture, to supply chain, to dispensing, pharmacists are a valuable resource in medicine access, a core component in the provision health care. Therefore, PSK represents pharmacists and strengthens their professional expertise and commitment to constantly update their knowledge and skills. Moreover, PSK has developed standards to ensure that patients across the country receive high-quality pharmaceutical products and care, thereby contributing to universal health coverage by improving the safety of drugs and the quality of care provided by pharmacists to the people.

Praava Health is changing the way health care is delivered in Bangladesh with a “brick and click” model – quality brick and mortar services, powered by technology. We’re shifting culture away from hospital-centric, transactional and episodic care to value-based outpatient care focused on prevention. Our doctors spend 15 minutes with patients, educating them about disease prevention and wellness. This enables more personal and empathetic patient-doctor relationships, creating continuity of care, improving outcomes for patients, and reducing burdens on the health systems overall.

Our reach52 “offline-first” healthtech platform enables access to a full range of health services, including in low-connectivity markets, by providing health workers, education, screening and advice to e-commerce for affordable health products (medicines, insurance, diagnostics and consumer health). Community members and health workers are equipped as with the “offline-first” mobile platform to manage the services, such as collecting data, running health programs and delivering products. We actively partner with governments, non-profits and businesses to translate their business, social and access strategies into sustainable health services and impact through our platform. Our work is underpinned by population data, which we collect through our agents and use to deliver targeted health services where they’re needed most. Digital health provides the opportunity to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage, but only if it works for the billions of people living in low-connectivity regions across low- and middle-income countries. Through our health tech platform, and by supporting community empowerment and bringing together partners across the health ecosystem, we’re committed to reaching everyone on earth with the affordable, accessible health care they need in a sustainable way.

At Roche, we know that life-changing innovation is only meaningful if it reaches those who need it. We also understand that millions of patients all over the world still do not have access to quality health care. Multiple barriers stand in their way, and the situation was exacerbated by the pandemic, which increased global inequalities.Comprehensive universal health coverage is an investment, not a cost. It helps build stable economies and strong societies and is fundamental to addressing inequality in access to treatment. As a company, our goal is to support health systems in delivering sustainable access to comprehensive care for all people who need it. We have a longstanding commitment to partner with health care systems to build capability and capacity in prevention, diagnostics, analytics and treatment." - F. Hoffmann-La Roche

At Philips, we believe every person on this planet should have access to high-quality, affordable care. Digital health solutions have to become a vital part of universal health coverage to strengthen health systems and achieve health coverage for the many, not the few. With our innovations, we connect people, data and technology to optimize care delivery. Digital and technological innovation on its own will not be enough to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. It will require responsible leadership, a collaborative approach, new business models and financing solutions within a strong legal framework.

Because one-third of the world’s population does not have access to quality health care solutions, we are committed to exploring ways to ensure people get the treatments they need and improve their quality of life. Improving access to health care requires tackling various barriers. It means innovating to address unmet medical needs and develop new solutions to bring health care to patients, ensuring that the conditions are in place in terms of production, supply chain and market access, to make the products and treatments available to people. It also means building capacity and awareness for stronger health care systems. Improving the affordability of products, treatments and related services is also crucial.

Within the framework of the sustainable development goals, Sumitomo Chemical has articulated a clear, ongoing commitment to continuously innovate new tools for malaria until eradication is ultimately achieved. While our activity is deeply focused on a leadership role in eradicating malaria, Sumitomo Chemical believes that universal health coverage is the foundation for achieving all health goals. Sumitomo Chemical commits to continuously develop innovative health tools to protect from vector-borne disease and will work with countries and multi-lateral partners around the world to facilitate access to health tools for all.

Swoop Aero’s founders had a vision of making basic health care such as vaccinations accessible for everyone, everywhere. They saw the inadequacies in the existing health care supply chain, particularly in rural and remote areas with poor infrastructure and accessibility challenges, and set out to transform last-mile health care delivery. By removing the reliance on road-based transport models and shifting them to the air, the reach, speed and flexibility of health care provision can be drastically improved. Health care providers have access to an on-demand delivery service, meaning they always have access to the essential supplies when and where they’re needed and can spend more time doing what they do best: caring for their communities. There are so many existing and potential use cases but all share two key benefits: improved patient outcomes and access to affordable basic health care.

Takeda supports sustainable development goal 3.8, including the principle of financial risk protection. As a biopharmaceutical company, we intend to provide access to our innovative medicines for as many patients as possible through Takeda's access to medicine initiatives, including assistance programs that make medicines more affordable for patients in a sustainable way. We are also developing programs that ‘go beyond medicines’ to help educate patients about diseases and treatments, improve the diagnostic rates for non-infectious diseases, help provide transport to medical facilities, and provide medical education to health workers.

Taleam Systems has been working in the computer and technology field since 2011, and we are now better positioned to expand our business in the areas of developing health products such as hearing aids and accommodating people with disabilities by attaching tablets directly to wheelchairs. Our innovations aim to leave no one behind.