We are witnessing an unprecedented global focus on health systems, workforces and supply chains; we are learning and recovering from the wide-ranging economic, social, and political impact Covid-19 has had in undermining the right to health, as well as preparing for the next pandemic.
CARE and our health partners have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage this momentum to build back resilient, equitable, and accountable health systems, strengthening access to and demand for health products and services for the most remote and vulnerable populations.
CARE applies a special focus to adolescent and women’s sexual reproductive rights and health, maternal and child health, nutrition and health in emergencies.
We understand the challenges facing the pharmaceutical and health sector:
- Supply chain costs and challenges associated with ‘last-mile’ distribution persist and are exacerbated by humanitarian, environmental and health emergencies, leaving the most remote and vulnerable with little or no access to essential health products, medicines and services.
- The expense and retention of a skilled and qualified workforce, particularly at the frontline, remains a huge blockage to achieving global health rights.
- Developing health-seeking behaviours within communities to drive demand for health products and services requires localised behaviour change interventions that address root causes and barriers to access.
- Health systems are weakened and undermined by gender inequalities, harmful social norms and cultural practices.
- Women remain less likely to receive vital healthcare, impacting efforts to curb significant risks including maternal mortality, reproductive options, female genital cutting, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, and cervical cancer.
- Low health literacy and health-seeking behaviours (particularly on vaccines and preventable and treatable noncommunicable diseases) increases the burden on health systems.
- Companies are facing increasing regulatory and compliance requirements to meet strict industry guidelines and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards on trade, public health and product safety.
Why work with Business with CARE?
- Gender equality is at the heart of our right to health strategy.
- A strong track record of delivering a more gender equitable approach to public and private health systems, services, and a global health workforce, with experience of working in over 100 countries.
- Experts in the set up and scaling of community healthworker networks – developing market-based business models and partnerships with key stakeholders to become self-sustaining.
- We build the capacity and skills of healthworkers.
- Global technical health experts, specialising in the provision of reproductive health and rights to the most marginalised and vulnerable groups, especially in humanitarian and fragile settings.
- Long-term, trusted relationships with local governments, stakeholders and communities and deep understanding of the complex health challenges.
