Novartis Expands Community Health Programs to Improve Heart Disease and Cancer Care

Novartis has announced an expansion of its community health programs designed to address gaps in care for cancer and heart disease, with a target to reach more than 30 countries by 2030.

The initiative is centered on a partnership-based community health solutions (CHS) strategy. This framework aims to connect patients to necessary care by addressing the social and systemic factors that influence health outcomes, moving beyond the traditional delivery of medicine.

Community Health Solutions Strategy

The CHS strategy is designed to tackle unmet needs in areas where the company has a legacy of innovation. The program focuses on three primary objectives: addressing barriers that prevent millions from accessing care, extending the reach of scientific advancements to more communities, and strengthening trust within those communities.

Binta Beard, President of the Novartis US Foundation and Head of US Social Impact at Novartis, stated that the approach requires centering the voices and expertise of communities to address their unique needs.

Regional Implementations and Partnerships

In the Philippines, Novartis Healthcare Philippines has renewed a partnership with AC Health. This Integrated Cardiovascular and Cancer Care partnership focuses on expanding access to innovative medicines for high cholesterol, heart failure, and breast cancer.

The collaboration, which originally launched in May 2024, aims to scale patient-centered initiatives and improve healthcare professional engagement. The partnership intends to strengthen value-added services to improve patient adherence and overall health outcomes.

Renewing our partnership with AC Health strengthens our shared commitment to reimagining medicine and delivering what matters to patients

Hyeyoon Park, Country President, Novartis Healthcare Philippines

Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health, noted that the partnership allows essential and innovative medicines to be more accessible to patients and customers across their network.

Data-Driven Urban Health Initiatives

Parallel to the CHS strategy, the Novartis Foundation utilizes data and technology to reimagine urban health through two specific programs: AI4HealthyCities and CARDIO4Cities.

AI4HealthyCities uses advanced analytics and existing data to identify social, economic, and environmental determinants of health (SDOH) that predict cardiovascular outcomes. This program has been implemented in the following cities:

• Basel
• Helsinki
• Lisbon
• New York City
• Singapore

The insights from AI4HealthyCities are being integrated into CARDIO4Cities. This program involves co-creating tailored interventions with local authorities and partners to accelerate the early detection and management of cardiometabolic risk and disease.

The Novartis Foundation works with other sector players to design intersectoral actions addressing the most critical SDOH, measuring outcomes to refine interventions locally and share insights globally.

Addressing Chronic Disease Epidemics

The company’s focus on these programs is driven by a growing epidemic of chronic diseases, specifically cardiovascular disease and cancer. While these conditions are often treatable, Novartis identified that access to community resources, trusted care, and screenings remains out of reach for many populations.

The focus on cities is based on the projection that 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas in the coming years. The company views cities as critical points where health challenges and opportunities converge, making them ideal locations for addressing population health.