I’ve spent a good part of my career in healthcare—over three decades at Boehringer Ingelheim—witnessing firsthand the profound difference access to quality healthcare can make in people’s lives. As I’ve worked across markets in the region, the disparities in healthcare access have often been impossible to ignore. And yet, despite the challenges, I’ve also seen remarkable resilience, innovation, and hope from communities, governments, healthcare professionals, and veterinarians striving to bridge those gaps.
Re-thinking healthcare: A commitment to equity and social impact
Healthcare isn’t just about systems, numbers, or policies—it’s about the lives that are impacted every day. At its heart, healthcare is a commitment to equity, compassion, and giving every individual—human or animal—a chance at a better tomorrow.
However, in some parts of the region, challenges in healthcare infrastructure, affordability, and availability of medications can significantly impact quality of life and well-being.
With my experience in the healthcare industry, I recognise the key role that global healthcare companies play in bridging disparities. At Boehringer Ingelheim, our mission extends beyond developing innovative treatments; it’s about ensuring these advancements reach those who need them most, particularly in underserved communities with limited access to care.
I am proud to share that Boehringer Ingelheim has been ranked 8th in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index (ATMI), a significant improvement from 13th place in 2022. This recognition reflects our commitment to health equity and our efforts to ensure our therapies reach those who need them most. By advancing in areas such as research and development and product delivery, we are driving impactful change and making strides toward a more equitable future for all.
This is why we must redefine our perspective—viewing healthcare as a powerful force for creating broader social impact and lasting value.
Tackling disparities, one solution at a time
We have taken significant strides to address the healthcare gap in underserved communities. Rabies, a preventable yet deadly disease, claims the lives of approximately 59,000 people each year—40 per cent of whom are children. Leveraging our global expertise and rich legacy in dog vaccinations, including rabies, our ‘Stop Rabies’ initiative across the region aims to join forces globally to eliminate rabies. In South Africa, we have vaccinated 21,000 dogs since we started in 2023 and educated more than 5,000 students.
Similarly, in Kenya, we have successfully vaccinated more than 20,000 dogs in 2023, and our efforts continue to reach more in 2024. In India, we have vaccinated 30,000 dogs and helped increase awareness among students in schools about rabies prevention and the human-animal bond. Each vaccinated dog brings us one step closer to reducing the spread of rabies, keeping both humans and animals safe. However, reaching remote areas isn’t easy, and that’s where innovation comes in.
Over the years, we witnessed the incredible potential that exists when the private sector and communities come together to address healthcare challenges. One of the most inspiring examples of this has been Boerhinger Ingelheim’s work with drone delivery in Kenya within hard-to-reach areas. In places where roads are few and far between, where the cost and complexity of delivering medications can be challenging, drones are offering a practical, life-saving solution.
By leveraging an innovative method, we’re not just reducing the time it takes for healthcare to arrive—we’re helping save the lives of both humans and animals to contribute towards a healthier, brighter future.
Bridging the healthcare gap in non-communicable diseases
In 2022, we launched the Access to Healthcare program in Kenya—an initiative designed to directly tackle these challenges. The program began with a clear focus: to raise awareness of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), conduct patient screenings, diagnose chronic conditions early, and reduce economic barriers to healthcare access. We knew that diagnosing these diseases early is key to managing them effectively and preventing further complications. Following the screening process, patients enrolled in the program receive subsidized medication, personalised care, and ongoing support through regular follow-ups. Through this initiative, we’ve not only provided essential medicines, but also built a foundation for continuous care that empowers patients to live healthier lives.
Since its launch, the Access to Healthcare program has made a remarkable impact, reaching over 1,300 active patients in Kenya, who are currently receiving the care they need to manage their conditions. These patients now have access to care tailored to their needs — something many thought was out of reach.
But the success of the program doesn’t stop with the patients themselves. To ensure long-term sustainability and greater reach, we’ve also built partnerships with local hospitals and health entities. These collaborations are laying the groundwork for the program’s future expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa. Our goal is to bring healthcare to even more underserved communities, where people often suffer from treatable conditions simply because they don’t have access to basic healthcare services.
A vision for the future: better healthcare access for all
At Boehringer Ingelheim, we both envision and work towards a more equitable future for humanity and animals. But this can only be achieved by breaking down the silos that exist between government, the private sector and the community at large. One way we are doing this is by pushing for innovative solutions and strategic partnerships that reach across the aisle to address healthcare challenges, while ensuring quality healthcare is accessible to all. Because in the end, the fundamental truth that underlies the healthcare equity gap is that access to healthcare is a basic right that everyone deserves, no matter where they live.