The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Colombia Business Council (USCBC) and the Global Initiative on Health and the Economy (GIHE) hosted a Public-Private Partnership Forum to Advance Resilient Health Systems in Colombia in Bogota, Colombia on August 10.
The event convened leaders from government, academia, civil society, and the business community to focus on the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a tool to strengthen the health of communities, and the role of the private sector in building more sustainable and resilient health systems.
The private sector is leading the charge in creating sustainable and resilient heath systems, and in this spotlight series, we hear from business leaders about their company’s impact in Colombia.
Today’s sponsor spotlight is on Leonardo Espitia, General Manager, Amgen
Q: How is your company contributing to advancing health in Colombia, especially in underserved communities?
Amgen's work is completely focused on our mission to serve patients, each of the scenarios in which we interact and the stakeholders we address make sense to the extent that our patients achieve timely access to our therapies and navigate within a health system that shelters them and allows a more pleasant transition to diseases. Some of our 2022 milestones include:
• Projects such as IMPACTS impacted more than 75,000 patients of the subsidized regime.
• In partnership with the National Cancer Institute, we contributed to the reduction of gaps in the early detection of cancer in many regions of the country impacting 1228 health professionals and 14,943 patients.
• Through collaborative work projects between scientific associations, territorial entities, and Amgen, we reached more than 1,300 patients for active and healthy aging with osteoporosis.
• Amgen invested in generating value and access in therapeutic areas such as onco-hematology.
Working for underserved, peripheral communities with high unmet needs is a daily commitment to achieve a greater impact in healthcare environment. We bring biotechnology, innovation, and opportunities in the shortest possible time to every part of the country.
Q: Where does your company see the greatest opportunity for working in partnership with stakeholders to enhance sustainable access to health products and services?
Our 360° engagement approach from trade associations, patient advocacy groups, scientific societies, and our medical panels, allows us to have a complete view of the healthcare environment and facilitate decision-making that benefits the entire Colombian health ecosystem.
Amgen’s history is the history of the stakeholders we interact with and the system we navigate in.
Q: What will be your company’s legacy in Colombia?
We want our contribution to the country to be comprehensive. We not only want to bring the best, safe, and effective medicines for the treatment of the most difficult diseases in the world, but we also want to contribute with innovation, development, and long-term sustainability of the Colombian health system.
We want to continue working for access to medicines through public-private alliances. Expand the clinical studies that are carried out in Colombia to potentiate the country in clinical research.
About the authors
Megan Bridges
Megan Bridges is Senior Manager for the Americas at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and supports the U.S.-Colombia Business Council, U.S.-Mexico Economic Council, U.S.-Canada Business Initiative, and Coalition for the Rule of Law in Global Markets.
