In this new episode of Voices for Women’s Health, Teresa Graham – Head of Pharma Global Products Strategy (GPS) at Roche Pharmaceuticals – sits down with Springboard Enterprises CEO, Natalie Buford Young, for an empowering discussion around women’s health and the need for greater equity in research and funding. 

Springboard Enterprises has been supporting women entrepreneurs in technology and life sciences for decades, working tirelessly to close the gaps in women’s health by providing greater funding and research to women-led companies. 

Natalie Buford Young, CEO of Springboard Enterprises 

“Now, as physicians, as medical oncologists, we have more responsibilities because it's not only the cure of the disease, but it's also to avoid as much as possible the side effects… We need to pay more attention when we design clinical trials to try to focus on the survivorship issues.” Dr Matteo Lambertini

For Indyra Oropeza Aguilar, the journey started with some amazing doctors and help. But she soon realised that not everyone has the same access to information and healthcare. She has since started a blog, become a patient advocate, founded non-profit organisation and is currently driving support to implement the National Cancer Law in Peru which will seek to provide all oncology patients in Peru with access to dignified and a high quality of health care.

Indyra believes that information is power. Listen to our latest podcast episode now for this inspirational story and empowering thoughts! 

Our healthcare systems are failing women and that's a fact that is becoming even clearer after COVID-19. We fundamentally have to set a new and different agenda to better provide outcomes for our mothers, daughters and sisters that are better and surpass what we've been able to achieve today. Women are so central to our lives and society. Thinking about ways to improve health care for women around the world has been on my mind for a long time. And inequalities in healthcare exist everywhere, no matter how mature systems are and COVID-19 has revealed the systemic gender biases in healthcare systems around the world.

 We've analyzed patient journeys through women, and one thing stands out --  there is a need for so much more, than just medicine. To overcome the many hurdles in their path, women need tools, integrated solutions. To make a difference, we need to look at the whole process of innovation in healthcare from the clinical trials being tested at the right populations to efficiencies and delivery and access to our innovations. We have to look at integrated holistic solutions for women and for healthcare systems to set a new agenda, but what does good look like,where should we begin and how do we achieve meaningful lasting change?

When we want to tackle issues of this magnitude, we want to start by listening to remarkable leaders who can talk about their own experiences, and today I am joined by just such a person Dr Stacy Rosen.

Dr Rosen is the Senior Vice President of Women's Health at the Katz Institute for Women's Health, Northwell Health which focuses on the elimination of health care disparities through comprehensive clinical programs, gender-based research, community partnerships and education. A practicing cardiologist Dr Rosen is co-author of the 2018 book Heart Smart for ‘Women: Six S.T.E.P.S. in Six Weeks to Heart-Healthy Living’ which equips women of all ages with the comprehensive program for heart-healthy living. Dr Rosen is a passionate advocate for comprehensive and integrated approach to women's health and i'm excited to have the opportunity to talk with her today

WHAT IS VOCES POR LA SALUD / VOICES FOR HEALTH, BY ROCHE ?

The Voices for Health podcast brings together voices of experts, policy makers and researchers to explore and determine ways to solve some of society’s most pressing health-related questions. Together we discuss how to achieve and enable safe access to quality care for each and every citizen in a sustainable and lasting way.

Our healthcare systems are failing women and that's a fact that is becoming even clearer after COVID-19. We fundamentally have to set a new and different agenda to better provide outcomes for our mothers, daughters and sisters that are better and surpass what we've been able to achieve today. Women are so central to our lives and society, but the question is, what does good look like, where do we begin and how do we achieve meaningful lasting change? As always when you think about tackling issues of this magnitude, you always want to start by listening. And I have the opportunity today to listen to a remarkable woman. Let me introduce Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby, who has done so much to ensure that women with cancer have insurance coverage in Ghana. Lydia is the Chief Executive of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority; she's a trained doctor and ear, nose and throat specialist and has practiced in both the United Kingdom and Ghana. She has achieved something truly remarkable in Africa in a public health setting with limited resources with patients who may only have to pay out of pocket for their medicines. She has ensured that both breast and cervical cancer are within the benefit package for NHI. 

WHAT IS VOCES POR LA SALUD / VOICES FOR HEALTH, BY ROCHE ?

The Voices for Health podcast brings together voices of experts, policy makers and researchers to explore and determine ways to solve some of society’s most pressing health-related questions. Together we discuss how to achieve and enable safe access to quality care for each and every citizen in a sustainable and lasting way.

In 2020, over 19 million people worldwide were affected by cancer, and almost ten million people died.

Cancer doesn’t wait for anyone. Not even a pandemic. 

Where early detection had to be delayed... where medical care was affected or simply overwhelmed in it’s struggle to cope with rising Covid-19 numbers... or continuing treatment became more remote and more difficult, cancer carried on regardless and unperturbed. 

According to the World Health Organization, over 50 percent of all countries partially or totally interrupted cancer care services to respond to the Covid-19 emergency.

Welcome to a new episode of Voices for Health. 

In acknowledgement of World Cancer Day, we spoke with Gilberto Lopes about the initiatives of the Union for International Cancer Control, UICC, to provide continuity of care for cancer during this pandemic. 

We discussed the importance of promoting cancer prevention, detection, and treatment as a public health priority, facing the growth of Non-Communicable-Diseases and their impact on health systems.

Alberto is a lawyer, professor, author and expert in public policy. He graduated from Harvard Law School and the College of Europe and holds a PhD in International Law & Economics from Bocconi University. His research centers on how law can improve people’s lives, through the adoption of power-shifting reforms.

Frederico Guanais é formado em engenheira civil pela Universidade Federal da Bahia, tem um máster da mesma instituição e doutorado em Administração Pública, Política de Saúde e Gerenciamento pela Universidade de Nova Iorque.

Já atuou nos ministérios de Finanças, Segurança e Desenvolvimento Social no Brasil, assim como no Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento. 

Falamos com ele sobre a importância de desenvolver um sistema de saúde no qual o paciente tenha o lugar central.

Desde que comenzó la pandemia, muchas personas con necesidad de tratamiento para múltiples patologías, -incluido el cáncer- no han recibido a tiempo ni los controles ni los cuidados que precisan. Esto es porque los servicios de atención médica se han interrumpido parcial o totalmente para dar respuesta a la emergencia del coronavirus. 

Entonces, ¿Cuál es la magnitud de esta disrupción de los servicios de salud en los pacientes oncológicos en las ciudades de América Latina? ¿Y cómo se va a manejar el incremento en la demanda de atención de estos pacientes en el mediano y largo plazo?

Los sistemas de salud latinoamericanos y sus prestadores de servicios sanitarios enfrentan una serie de desafíos y oportunidades sin precedentes. 

La atención oportuna de los pacientes dependerá de la capacidad de implementar intervenciones efectivas, que articulen a los actores públicos y privados de forma acelerada, y con la flexibilidad necesaria para adaptarse a los cambios continuos que ha traído la crisis sanitaria.

En el episodio de hoy hablaremos con Maria Fernanda Navarro sobre  cómo mejorar el acceso al diagnóstico y tratamiento del cáncer de una forma equitativa, de calidad, en las ciudades de los países de bajos y medianos ingresos. 

María Fernanda es directora regional de City Cancer Challenge Foundation para América Latina. Es médica de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Colombia y tiene una maestría en Salud Pública de la Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Harvard. En sus 18 años de experiencia en el sector salud, ha sido directora administrativa del Instituto de Cáncer Dana-Farber, directora regional de Americas Health Foundation y, desde 2020, directora regional de City Cancer Challenge Foundation.

This pandemic has shown us clearly that health is a core determinant of social and economic development; thus, we need to ensure health systems are equipped to address the current and future challenges, as well as the needs of the population. In this session, experts will discuss the challenges COVID-19 presents for the construction of sustainable health systems and what the role of governments should be as we transition to a “new normal.”

Dr. Rifat Atun, Director of Global Health Systems Cluster at Harvard University, talks in this interview about the challenges that Health Systems in emerging countries are facing now, and how this crisis can lend opportunities.  

Frederico graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the Universidade Federal da Bahia and earned a master’s degree from the same institution. He also earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration, Health Policy and Management from New York University. 

Prior to joining the OECD, he has worked with the ministries of Finance, Social Security, and Social Development in Brazil, as well as for the Inter-American Development Bank as Principal Health Specialist. 

Personal health care is not a single intervention, it is a paradigm shift. 

Alan Lovell, from The Economist Intelligence Unit, says: "it's not possible to say that yet every intervention under the personalized medicine umbrella will prove worthy to adopt.  You know, that's true of any area of medical innovation.  But, having said that, the evidence does suggest that many personalized treatments, when spread across the Health System, are not only cost effective, but can actually lead to substantial savings and improve patient outcome. A study conducted in France found that investing just one point seven million euros in genetic testing for lung cancer patients could cut treatment costs by nearly seventy million euros". 

En este episodio, Alberto hablará sobre las acciones y comportamientos de los ciudadanos pueden tener un impacto significativo en el bienestar individual y colectivo. 

Estudios recientes revelaron el beneficio sustancial de usar máscaras faciales y practicar el distanciamiento social en la lucha contra COVID-19. Del mismo modo, las investigaciones han demostrado que mantener un estilo de vida saludable y evitar el consumo de cigarrillos, alcnohol y alimentos procesados puede reducir los factores de riesgo asociados con las enfermedades no transmisibles, y la carga que implican para los sistemas de salud. 

La participación activa de los ciudadanos es clave para impulsar una transformación que conduzca a instituciones más centradas en las personas. Pero, ¿Cómo se puede capacitar y empoderar a los ciudadanos para que sean los protagonistas de los procesos de transformación de los sistemas de salud? 

Frederico se graduó como ingeniero civil en la Universidad Federal de Bahia, tiene un master de esa misma institución y un doctorado en Administración Pública, Políticas de Salud y Gerenciamiento, de la New York University.

Previo a sumarse a la OCDE, se ha desempeñado en los ministerios de Finanzas, Seguridad Social y Desarrollo Social del Brasil, así como en el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, como su principal especialista en salud.

Hablamos con él de la importancia de diseñar sistemas de salud centrados en las personas.

El COVID-19 ha puesto de manifiesto la necesidad de una mayor articulación entre las políticas de salud pública y desarrollo social y de prestar una atención renovada al papel que el sector privado puede cumplir en algunas esferas a partir de APP. 

La pandemia también reveló que la infraestructura sanitaria es inadecuada y que las instalaciones carecen de la capacidad de gestión y la fuerza de trabajo necesarias para hacer frente a las crecientes demandas de atención de su población. 

El contexto actual presenta una oportunidad única para replantear y establecer colaboraciones transformadoras entre los sectores público y privado a fin de crear soluciones sostenibles que permitan hacer frente a algunos de los desafíos que se plantean a los sistemas de salud. 

Emmanuel Ferrario analiza en esta entrevista estos problemas desde la óptica de su propia disciplina.
 

A medida que los gobiernos se preparan para hacer frente a las consecuencias críticas de esta pandemia, se necesitan intervenciones más específicas que conduzcan a un uso más eficiente y eficaz de los recursos. 

También hay una mayor necesidad de adoptar decisiones informadas, basadas en datos, a fin de crear sistemas de salud resistentes y sostenibles.

Marcelo D'Agostino, experto en Sistemas de Información y Salud Digital, y asesor de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, nos hablará de esto y mucho más en este episodio.

En su trabajo diario Marcelo desarrolla, administra y comparte información de los países miembros de la OPS. Esa información técnica y científica es usada para promover acciones políticas, sociales e individuales necesarias para el funcionamiento de los sistemas de salud. 

Vivemos um presente incerto, complexo e ao mesmo tempo fascinante.  Com inovações que uns anos atrás no teríamos imaginado, e que têm o potencial de transformar a vida das pessoas, e a dos seus seres queridos.

Porém, existem mesmo assim grandes desigualdades no aceso ao bem-estar, impedindo que o valor da inovação alcance a todos do mesmo jeito.

Sejam bem-vindos a Vozes pela Saúde, um canal de Roche onde convidamos vocês a refletir sobre os desafios e oportunidades que hoje enfrentam os sistemas de saúde para segurar o aceso aos cuidados de qualidade para todos os pacientes do hoje e do amanhã. 

Vivimos un presente incierto, complejo y a su vez fascinante. Con innovaciones que años atrás no hubiéramos imaginado, y que tienen el potencial de transformar la vida de las personas y sus seres queridos. 

Sin embargo, también existen grandes desigualdades en el acceso al bienestar, que impiden que el valor de la innovación alcance a todos por igual.
 

En este canal,  conversaremos con investigadores, profesionales de la salud, policymakers, innovadores y representantes de pacientes. Sus voces nos ayudarán a enfrentar el desafío que más nos concierne:  ¿Cómo podemos preparar a los sistemas de salud para adoptar la medicina del futuro?