Healthcare leader looks to address barriers to diabetes care in Colombia
In Colombia, more than 800,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Photograph: Sanofi
Sanofi joins the Business Call to Action with a patient-focused programme for Colombians at the base of the economic pyramid
Sanofi, a leading provider of diabetes treatment and related services, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a diabetes-management programme for patients served by the Colombia’s subsidized healthcare system. BCtA is a global initiative that encourages companies to fight poverty through inclusive business models. It is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international organizations.
Diabetes is a global health challenge affecting 415 million people worldwide; this number is expected to increase in the future. When not properly treated, diabetes can lead to complications including amputation and retinal blindness, which can have enormous costs in terms of loss of productivity and income, devastating both patients and their families. Yet it is well known that complications of diabetes can be reduced by improving blood glucose levels through increased physical activity and a proper diet, as well as with timely treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs and/or insulin therapy.
In Colombia, more than 800,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Data shows that there is a very high proportion of undiagnosed diabetics within the subsidized national healthcare program. It also shows that among those already diagnosed, especially among insulin dependent diabetics, there is a high percentage who are under treated or inadequately treated, leading to elevated rates of avoidable complications. Similarly, the percentage rate of patients on insulin therapy within the subsidized national healthcare program is lower than the national average, which leads to worse health outcomes among patients within this regime.
With this scenario, Sanofi sees a high potential for scaling up its inclusive diabetes care model among subsidized patients in Colombia. “The potential impact, both in terms of health outcomes and in healthcare costs, strongly motivated us to develop this integrated management model for diabetics served by Colombia’s subsidized national healthcare program,” said Camilo Gonzalez, Sanofi’s diabetes access manager.
“This is significant for Sanofi, since we are a major player in providing generic medicines and branded therapies, as well as diabetes-related services to Colombia’s healthcare system. We are pleased to be recognized by the Business Call to Action and look forward to work with them and our fellow members in the years to come.”
Sanofi’s inclusive business employs a patient-centric healthcare model designed to address local barriers to diabetes care for people living at the base of the economic pyramid (BoP), who also have limited access to services or products. By 2017, Sanofi will help health maintenance organizations belonging to the subsidized national healthcare program to reach and track up to 450,000 people, which is the estimated number of persons at risk of having diabetes in the subsidized regime.
This pilot initiative aims to empower at least 90% of diabetic patients who both belong to the subsidized regime and are using Sanofi insulin therapies, in a program that will enable them to take control of their care through healthy lifestyle choices, effective use of insulin therapy and optimal nutrition. It also intends to help patients stop the progression of the disease and prevent avoidable complications with awareness and education. Complementing this effort, Sanofi will provide medical- and diabetes-related training to 1,000 rural doctors serving subsidized patients.
“Sanofi’s inclusive business model is a strong example of the private sector meeting the healthcare needs of poor people while furthering the global development agenda,” said Sahba Sobhani, BCtA’s acting manager. “We welcome Sanofi’s membership in the Business Call to Action and look forward to sharing the company’s knowledge and experience with our members and the broader private-sector community.
Content on this page is provided by Business Call to Action, and originally appeared on the The Guardian Business and the Sustainable Development Goals Hub