NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, November 11, 2016

Throughout my working life, I have had the opportunity to observe the pharmaceutical industry from outside and from within. I started my career as a doctor dealing with big healthcare firms and now I am the chief medical officer for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical so I have seen things from both sides.

Over the years I have witnessed how effectively or otherwise, pharmaceutical firms meet the needs of patients around the world. When I consider our industry’s activity in Africa specifically, it is clear to me that while some great progress has been made, we need to recognise that Africa is a huge, diverse ever changing environment. Which is why we need new approaches to healthcare that respond to these changes and that support African nations in achieving their socio-economic as well as healthcare goals.

Our approach also needs to recognise that there is no single African healthcare system, no typical African patient or single model of how to improve healthcare. We need a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Rather than simply providing medicines, we need to invest time and funds in healthcare ecosystems that involve a wide range of partners.