Boehringer calls for ‘game changing’ ideas in health
pharmafile | January 29, 2013 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Ashoka Changemakers, Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim has teamed up with a social entrepreneur network to promote health projects in developing countries.
This is the second time the pharma company has teamed up with Ashoka Changemakers to launch its online competition ‘Transforming Health Systems: Gamechanging Business Models’. The aim is to discover innovative business models that are solving critical problems in health systems around the world.
“Traditional healthcare systems in mature markets are not designed to encourage enough collaboration between key players, such as care providers, insurance companies, and government organisations,” said Jean Scheftsik de Szolnok, vice president Southern Europe for Boehringer and Making More Health Steering Committee Chair.
“Often, the systems’ misaligned incentives fail to produce real value for patients and society. Innovative business models are urgently needed to solve this issue,” she added.
Transforming Health Systems also seeks business models that address problems in emerging markets where governments, businesses, and non-profits often lack the resources or commitment to serve communities in need.
Winners will receive awards totalling $85,000 plus support from Boehringer to help advance their business models. They will be matched with Boehringer’s local country offices, and will be able to explore the potential for partnerships or further ongoing support. All individuals, organisations, or partnerships are eligible to enter from now until 10 April at www.changemakers.com/healthbiz
Transforming Health Systems was built on key insights gained from the first ‘Making More Health’ competition launched by Boehringer and Ashoka Changemakers.
The partners announced three winners of the first award in August 2011:
- Unite For Sight, Ghana
- ColaLife: Piggybacking Simple Medicines on Cola Supply Chains, to Save Lives in Underserved Rural Areas in Africa, Zambia
- Saúde Criança: Holistic Health Solutions for Families in Favelas, Brazil
“The previous Making More Health competition added tremendously to Ashoka’s network of social entrepreneurs who are working to solve the critical problems plaguing the world’s health systems,” said Ashoka president Diana Wells.
“We have found that in tackling health from a systems level, most of our social entrepreneurs are finding ways to 1) deliver unlikely allies to solve the healthcare practitioner shortage, or 2) are innovating new delivery systems which can reach low income populations in both urban and rural areas.
“We are excited to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim once again to tap the transformative power of social entrepreneurship and to solve one of the most critical issues that is confronting society today.”
Andrew McConaghie
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