Philips establishes SDG platform in Kenya, supports UN healthcare initiative

Royal Philips on Tuesday May 2, 2017 announced its full support for a new Government of Kenya and United Nations (UN) initiative aimed at strengthening primary and community healthcare in Africa. The leading health technology company is coming on board as the first private sector partner to establish an SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Partnership Platform in Kenya for accelerating primary healthcare transformation in support of universal health coverage.

This unique platform will bring together executive leadership from government, development partners, private sector organizations and civil society to investigate opportunities for accelerating universal access to primary healthcare services in Kenya. Special focus will be given to addressing gaps in human resources, healthcare financing, essential medicines, medical supplies, health information, and the use of technology.

“The Government of Kenya is committed to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. We are open to fostering partnerships that are dynamic and mutually beneficial and we foresee great potential in the SDG partnership platform,” said Hon. Dr. Cleopa Mailu, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kenya.

Philips will immediately provide support to the platform to start work on establishing a common fact-base on primary healthcare by assessing current and future healthcare needs, so that platform members can jointly identify, design and implement transformative initiatives in pursuit of the platform’s ambitions. Philips will leverage its in-depth clinical insights, global innovation capabilities, and its experience to sustainably deliver improved healthcare through partnership with national and county level stakeholders. In addition and to ensure continuity, Philips has also committed support for two years to the establishment of the SDG Healthcare Platform Secretariat.

“You cannot achieve prosperity without quality healthcare, so we are excited to come on board and contribute effectively to the SDG Partnership Platform on Primary Healthcare Transformation,” said Mr. Jasper Westerink, CEO, Philips Africa. “Philips is passionate about healthcare, because more than in any other sector, it has a direct and dramatic positive impact on the quality of people’s lives. As a key stakeholder in this sector, we are determined to align agendas and incentives that eliminate barriers to healthcare access. No single business, institution or government organization can solve this pressing issue on its own. The SDG Partnership Platform underpins our collective responsibility to ensure we all have access to high quality affordable primary healthcare.”

“The constitution of Kenya guarantees the rights to health as contained under article 43. The Council of Governors of Kenya is looking forward to closely collaborating with the SDG Partnership Platform to help accelerate universal access to primary healthcare in Kenya’s 47 counties through unlocking transformative public-private partnership investments,” said Mrs. Jacqueline Mogeni, CEO, Council of Governors, Kenya.

“We are excited about this ambitious new Partnership Platform. Everyone has a role to play in the delivery of the SDGs and partnering with responsible, innovative businesses such as Philips in that process raises our chances of becoming the first generation to end poverty,” added Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Kenya.

Philips believes that strengthening local healthcare systems is central to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3. Philips has been dedicated to advancing primary healthcare in Africa for many years, with a strong focus on Mother and Child Care.

The issues facing primary healthcare in Africa are complicated and multifaceted. Creating sustainable improvement therefore means addressing a wide range of challenges collectively. Issues range from the unavailability of qualified healthcare workers and the lack of electricity, water and basic healthcare technology in many areas, to sustainability and a lack of reliable data.

In June 2014, in partnership with the local government of Kiambu County, Kenya, Philips inaugurated the first Community Life Center (CLC)  in Africa. This is an open platform aimed at strengthening primary and community healthcare, and turned the local health facility into a community hub, where technology is bundled with an integrated service package and community empowerment interventions. This includes basic infrastructure and healthcare technology improvements, such as solar power and LED lighting, training, maintenance and sustainability, connectivity, reporting, monitoring, referral procedures, medical backpacks for community health workers, patient and workflow optimization and project management.

Within eighteen months of its opening (from June 2014 – December 2015), the total number of outpatients visiting the center in Kiambu per month increased from 900 to 4080; the number of children being treated quadrupled; the number of first antenatal care patients grew fifteen-fold, and the number of fourth visit antenatal care patients each month grew sixteen-fold.

The second CLC was inaugurated in Tadu village in the Democratic Republic of Congo in November 2016, and work is currently underway on a CLC in Mandera County in North-Eastern Kenya.

The enormous success of the CLC pilot in Kenya is compelling evidence that such platforms, implemented in collaboration with governmental and private partners, can be replicated throughout Africa wherever deprived communities need a helping hand.

“Philips wants to contribute to the process of co-creating new solutions, new business models, and meaningful partnerships to provide innovations that make an impact. The SDG Partnership Platform will enable the dialogue and decision making required to jointly define new pathways to ensure that the provision of healthcare in the SDGs reaches everyone, everywhere,” concluded Jasper Westerink.