German Global Health Award 2017

1st German Global Health Award under Patronage of Federal Minister Brigitte Zypries

On 17th May, 2017, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries presented the first-ever German Global Health Award at “Global Health – the International and the German Agenda,” an event with more than 200 participants from around 30 countries taking place in the context of the B20 Health Conference with B20 as integral part of the G20 process. The award initiated by GHP (now GHA) honours German companies, associations or individuals for innovative projects and partnerships in global health that contribute to health system strengthening in developing and emerging countries.

The German Global Health Award, under the patronage of Federal Minister Brigitte Zypries, has been granted in two categories by the German Healthcare Partnership (GHP), the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and BIO Deutschland.

From right to left: Prof. Dr. Ilona Kickbusch (Director Global Health Programme, Graduate Institute Geneva), Michel Sidibé (Executive Director UNAIDS an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations) and Roland Göhde (Chairman of the Board, German Healthcare Partnership).

From right to left: Iris Plöger (BDI), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries, Dr. Dieter Wenderlein (Gemeinschaft Sant’Egidio), Dirk Beils (MACH4), Dr. Viola Bronsema (BIO Deutschland) and Roland Göhde (German Healthcare Partnership).

Winner German Global Health Award 2017 – Category 1

The award for innovative products, services and partnerships developed by small- to mid-sized enterprises was granted to MACH4 Automatisierungstechnik GmbH for the Pharmacy of the Future.

The company’s project to establish a system of Pharmacy Dispensing Units provides an innovative solution to improve access to pharmaceuticals for chronically-ill patients in South Africa. South Africa has one of the highest rates of chronic illness in the world, such as high blood pressure or HIV, and yet has a low ratio of pharmacists to patients. The idea is to set up secure Pharmacy Dispensing Units in shopping centres or similar places, where chronically-ill patients can use a chip-card to automatically receive medication. The machines are outfitted with a cloud-based videochat option, so a patient could speak to a doctor or pharmacist even if the machine is located in a remote area. This project fully satisfies the criteria of innovation and relevance to the problems of the target country.

Winner German Global Health Award 2017 – Category 2

The award for innovative products, services and partnerships developed by larger companies, associations, or individuals as handed over to the  Gemeinschaft Sant’Egidio for the DREAM Programme.

The Gemeinschaft Sant’Egidio, which is the German branch of Community Sant’Egidio, carries out work in ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen health systems and support capacity building in the area of HIV/AIDS treatment. Gemeinschaft Sant’Egidio works with local governments to run more than 40 HIV/AIDS centres that offer treatment, group support and training. Their programme now aims to include more innovative technologies, such as Telemedicine, in order to strengthen the overall system. Since one of the goals of the programme is to improve access to HIV-tests and treatment, this creates an opportunity to introduce or expand the reach of German companies or NGOs offering diagnostics, medical infrastructure, or medications. This project fully meets the criteria of innovation, health system strengthening, tailoring to target country needs and improved access for German actors.

Brigitte Zypries, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, lauded the work of the winners of the German Global Health Award 2017.

Both projects demonstrate how the German healthcare sector drives innovation to attain the worthwhile goal of supporting global health at home and abroad. The recognition of such work is especially important in the context of the meeting of the Health Ministers of the G20 countries taking place in Berlin later this week.”

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, addressed the B20 Community in a special welcome note preceding the Award Ceremony.

“To be able to respond effectively to emerging epidemics and global health challenges such as anti-microbial resistance, we need effective partnerships, innovations and a truly multi-sectoral response. Through this award, the private sector is demonstrating its strong leadership and commitment to engage in global health in a new way.”

Dr Viola BronsemaSecretary General of BIO Deutschland

“Germany’s industrial health sector and the biotechnology industry are strong and competitive. We support this award to put the spotlight on health innovation made in Germany and hope to encourage other entrepreneurs to follow the example of this year’s outstanding winners.”

Roland Göhde Chairman of the Board, GHP

“With the German Global Health Award launched in this year of Germany’s G20 presidency, we would like to underline our strong private sector commitment towards multi- and inter-sectoral partnerships engaged in health system strengthening and Universal Health Coverage. Global Health needs to be an integral part of the G20 legacy, thus remaining and being further elaborated as one of the top priorities on the international agenda.”