Basel, Switzerland, 8 July, 2019 – The Novartis Foundation is sharpening its focus to concentrate fully on reimagining how data, digital and AI can transform global health. This new mandate builds on 40 years of striving for sustainable impact on health in low-income populations, most recently by focusing on leprosy elimination and cardiovascular health, in addition to digital health.
The Novartis Foundation will now concentrate on how digital technology can re-engineer health systems from being reactive to becoming proactive and even predictive. The foundation will work with partner governments to co-define national health priorities that data, digital and AI can address, and jointly build roadmaps for digital transformation of health systems. To make these roadmaps actionable, the foundation will convene relevant local and global stakeholders from public, private and civil society sectors, including partners that can provide digital solutions or funding.
The foundation’s new focus responds to the pressing need to innovate the way health and care is delivered worldwide to tackle the triple burden of infectious and noncommunicable diseases, and nutritional health issues. It recognizes that digital technology is one of the best ways to enhance and transform our response to this health crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The foundation’s new focus aligns with its existing mission of advancing health and well-being of underserved populations, and the Novartis position as a leading global medicines company that uses innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments.
Joerg Reinhardt, Chairman of Novartis and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Novartis Foundation said: “Society is facing unprecedented health challenges compounded by a significant shortage of skilled healthcare workers. Digital technologies offer great potential to empower patients and health providers, and help policy makers strengthen their health and care systems. The Novartis Foundation’s change of focus is a deliberate step to help health authorities realize the potential of digital health to better serve their populations.”
About The Novartis Foundation
Established 40 years ago, the Novartis Foundation strives to have sustainable impact on the health of low-income populations. In recent years, it has reached over 30 million people through a combination of programmatic work, health outcomes research, and the translation of newly generated evidence into global health policy. For more information, visit: https://www.novartisfoundation.org.
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