Lina M. Salazar Ortegón

The BoP Isn’t What it Used to Be: IDB’s upcoming forum to focus on how income changes are leading to business opportunities

The base of the pyramid as we knew it 10 years ago has changed tremendously. Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic growth between 2000 and 2010 benefited many in the region, from top to bottom. Millions of people emerged from poverty, and the segment of those living on $4-$10 a day grew considerably.

More than 400 million people in Latin America live at the base of the pyramid today. They represent a $760 billion annual market. The Inter-American Development Bank’s BASE III Forum will provide an opportunity to discuss how to tap into this largely unexplored market and have an impact on low-income people’s lives. It will take place in Mexico City June 29-July 1.

The majority of people who live at the BoP in Latin America have seen their disposable incomes grow in the past decade. As a consequence, this segment is starting to spend on goods and services that were previously unattainable, like quality health care. As their earnings increase, people at the BoP start to consider health a priority expense, opening the door to businesses interested in serving this market.

If your company wants to be at the forefront in the health sector, consider these three business insights that will help you better understand the base of the pyramid:

1. BoP-oriented businesses should target women. According to the World Bank study Work & Family, nearly 70 million women in Latin America and the Caribbean have entered the workforce (informal and formal) since 1980. Additionally, girls today are more likely to be enrolled in school than boys. As more women, including those at the base of the pyramid, are better educated and earning an income of their own, they will have more control over their health expenses and those of their children. This is a social development that health companies should take into account if they want to succeed at the BoP in the long term.

2. There is an opportunity for infant-oriented health services. Focus groups held by the Inter-American Development Bank’s Opportunities for the Majority department with BoP households in Peru and Mexico in 2014 showed that BoP parents prioritize their children’s health and are willing to spend more money to go to a private doctor if necessary. Interestingly, this changes after the kids reach age 5. There is a huge opportunity for companies to provide health services to the infant population. Business can certainly leverage the willingness of BoP parents to allocate resources to their children’s health by providing better, affordable services as well as investing in prevention.

3. Pharmacies in BoP neighborhoods are crucial for market penetration. Pharmacies in low-income neighborhoods in Latin America and the Caribbean have become key distribution channels of generic drugs and basic health services. BoP-oriented pharmacies sell generics per unit as opposed to in bulk, which suits BoP families that plan their budgets on a weekly or daily basis. Purchase of generics is mostly an out-of-pocket expense for these families. Pharmacy clerks are trusted members of their local BoP communities and customers follow their advice regarding cures for minor diseases and the purchase of basic medications. Focusing on the role pharmacies and pharmacy clerks play in these communities offers a roadmap for companies interested in better, effective market penetration at the BoP.

These are only a few of the many insights and ideas that can help businesses better understand the BoP health care market. During the BASE III Forum, companies, entrepreneurs and practitioners will share how they have accomplished financial and social returns serving the BoP. Don’t miss it!

Lina Salazar Ortegón works for Opportunities for the Majority at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Categories
Environment, Health Care
Tags
Base of the Pyramid, business development