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Jan 20, 2025
By the Philips Foundation team
Over the past 10 years, Philips Foundation has supported over 300 initiatives and collaborated with social enterprises to improve access to healthcare. In 2023, it helped deliver care to 28 million people in underserved regions worldwide, including Latin America, where partnerships have expanded access to quality healthcare for those in need.
Philips Foundation is dedicated to improving access to quality healthcare for underserved communities worldwide. By leveraging partnerships, innovative technologies, and a decade of expertise, the Foundation is working to close healthcare gaps and create lasting impact. In Latin America, the Foundation’s efforts are focused on addressing the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improving access to primary care. The four major NCDs – cardiovascular disease, most cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases – are the leading causes of death and disease in the region. These severe health conditions often affect people of working-age, meaning they also lead to financial insecurity when patients are unable to work. Impact in Latin America and progress over time Initially, Philips Foundation concentrated its efforts on short-term aid. For example, in 2018, the Foundation supported La Liga Contra el Cáncer, a Colombian non-profit, to support a vital campaign that raised awareness for prostate cancer and provided essential resources for screenings. Through this initiative, the Foundation contributed funding and equipment, which enabled health practitioners to reach 2,477 men, offering them critical screenings and information about prostate health.Over the years, Philips Foundation’s approach has evolved to prioritize scalable healthcare solutions that are built to last. “Today, the Foundation’s impact is both immediate and enduring. This progress is made possible through the dedication of partners and innovative solutions driving sustainable change,” says Margot Cooijmans, Director of the Philips Foundation.
By providing our students with innovative tools and training, we are unlocking their potential to become skilled health workers capable of delivering specialized care.
Sabine Zink
CEO of SAS Brasil
A standout example is the partnership with SAS Brasil, a non-profit organization addressing healthcare challenges in remote regions of Brazil. Together, the SAS Living Lab initiative was created, focusing on digital health education to equip healthcare professionals with skills in remote patient monitoring and imaging. Brazil's vast size poses challenges for its healthcare system, particularly in providing specialized care to remote regions. The lab will serve as a hub for research, innovation, and education in digital health, helping healthcare professionals and students in remote areas of the country to build skills and knowledge in digital healthcare practices, including remote patient monitoring and remote imaging. The lab aims to provide training to 3,600 individuals, enabling access to quality healthcare for a catchment area of 3.6 million people in Brazil.
“By providing our students with innovative tools and training, we are unlocking their potential to become skilled health workers capable of delivering specialized care,” said Sabine Zink, CEO of SAS Brasil. “This allows us to address healthcare gaps in remote communities, ensuring that high-quality services are accessible regardless of geography. Moreover, SAS Brasil’s Living Lab can serve as a 'sandbox' for testing new technologies and putting research into practice." The lab builds on a previous project between SAS Brasil, Philips, and Philips Foundation, to create specialized telehealth centers for remote areas. Responsible for Brazil’s first ever remote ultrasound, these centers have already provided 29,000 exams and consultations, both online and in person. Additionally, three of the centers are fully operated by public health nurses, highlighting the sustainable approach of the initiative. Long term benefits The World Health Organization projects a 76.2% increase in cancer cases in South America, highlighting the pressing need for early detection. In January 2024, Philips Foundation and FUCA, an Argentinian leading cancer research and prevention organization, launched a teleradiology initiative to accelerate early lung cancer diagnosis in underserved and remote areas of Argentina, Paraguay, and other parts of Latin America. The initiative, which is centered around the deployment of teleradiology solutions, is expected to impact between 20,000 and 25,000 people annually. It is a major step in improving early diagnosis and management of lung cancer for those who initially had little or no access to these services.
“This initiative allows us to make available to institutions throughout the country the capabilities and technology necessary to carry out lung cancer screening. Through these studies, early diagnosis can be achieved, significantly improving the prognosis of patients and the possibilities of cure,” explained Dr. Reinaldo Chacón, President of FUCA. “By empowering local health workers and providing specialized health services, Philips Foundation’s projects in Latin America are delivering sustainable benefits that pave the way improved access to care for many years to come. Using digital technology, we have a huge opportunity to continue to close healthcare gaps and elevate the standard of care over the next decade, and Philips employees are critical to achieving this,” concludes Cooijmans.
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