Lutz Hegemann, Chief Operation Officer Global Health - Lutz oversees the global health operations of Novartis. This includes the group’s overall access to healthcare operations, including business in sub-Saharan Africa, where Novartis is implementing a new model with a primary focus on patient reach.

People

Access makers

Texts by Goran Mijuk and Patrick Tschan, photos by Adriano Biondo, Stefan Bohrer, Roland Schmid, Linh Pham and Jan Räber

Le Thi Ban, Primary Healthcare Lead in Vietnam - Ban manages a three-year public-private partnership with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. The aim is to strengthen Vietnam’s primary healthcare system. To this end, 26 health stations will serve as prototypes for the 13 000 nationwide units. Before joining Novartis, Ban worked for the NGO FHI 360 in Vietnam.

Published on 16/11/2020

Having principles in place that provide strategic guidance to help improve access to healthcare across the globe is one thing. The other – crucial – part is having the right people who are willing to do what it takes to imbue these principles with life. Be it in the realm of research and development, in the area of affordability, or efforts to strengthen healthcare systems – the three pillars of the Novartis Access Principles – people mark the difference. Their personal motivation, stamina and professional skills are transporting a project from idea to reality.

During the more than 50 years since Novartis and its predecessor companies have been active in the access field, thousands of former associates have contributed to improve healthcare in underserved regions. Today, standing on their shoulders and building on the success of global programs to rein in malaria and leprosy, among others, a new generation of employees is reimagining the way to provide access to medicine to millions of people in need and make universal healthcare a reality.