DKSH tackles healthcare inequities with strategic partnerships

Billions of people still lack access to essential health services.

Despite significant progress in healthcare policy reforms across Asia, many people still lack access to essential health services, and governments are increasingly turning to the private sector to bridge these gaps. 

Bijay Singh, Global Head of the Healthcare Business Unit at DKSH, highlighted the critical role of partnerships in addressing healthcare inequalities in Asia. “Number one is ensuring the right partnerships, and the second is to help patients take treatments into their own hands by having more avenues such as self-care,” he stated. 

He explained that healthcare inequalities are exacerbated by Asia's complex and constantly changing regulatory frameworks, making it difficult to introduce and distribute essential products.

Singh emphasised the importance of collaborating with market expansion service providers like DKSH, which offer a wide range of integrated and customised solutions, including registration, market entry, marketing and sales, and physical distribution.

To achieve universal healthcare access in the region, Singh stressed the need for increased investment in the healthcare workforce. “What we see is that the coverage ratio for people that are 65 and older, is very low,” he said. He pointed out the challenges in reaching rural areas and highlighted that the coverage rate of doctors for the 65 and above cohort in Singapore has dropped by 5.2% since the pre-pandemic period. 

Singh identified successful strategies that have created the most inclusivity in healthcare. “I think increasing healthcare access in remote areas is critical. Another is tackling the rising burden of non-communicable diseases as populations age,” he explained. 

He cited that in Southeast Asia alone, 62% of all deaths are now due to non-communicable diseases. Singh reiterated the importance of ensuring an adequate number of healthcare workers to meet these growing needs.

“I think Southeast Asia's healthcare landscape is poised for significant transformation, mainly because of differing market regulations, levels of infrastructure, and investment,” he stated. He acknowledged the general shortage of healthcare professionals but expressed confidence that increasing affluence and an ageing population would drive more investment in infrastructure and healthcare.

Singh highlighted DKSH’s pivotal role in supporting healthcare companies and communities, helping them expand their reach and ensure essential medicines are delivered to the right place at the right time, including to underserved communities.