Philips Foundation

We’re proud to share the final regional story in our Decade of Impact series! For the past 10 years, Philips Foundation has worked to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes for under-served communities around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa, we’ve focused on enhancing maternal and child health and addressing the alarming rise of cardiovascular diseases —supporting health systems facing workforce shortages, limited funding, and fragile infrastructure. Here are a few of our initiatives: 🤰High-risk pregnancy toolkit  To help bridge gaps in maternal care we partnered with Philips Design and the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC to develop a High-Risk Pregnancy toolkit. The toolkit includes easy-to-understand cards that help recognize signs of high-risk pregnancies and promote awareness of healthy and unhealthy behaviors.  Distributed across six countries, it has reached 1,800+ birth attendants and helped increase antenatal check-ups among high-risk pregnant women. 👩🏿⚕️Increasing access to ultrasound services  In Uganda and Kenya, we’re expanding access to obstetric ultrasound. With partners like Imaging the World Africa and Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, we’ve trained 250+ health workers, equipped facilities, and improved referral systems. These initiatives have contributed to policy development for point-of-care ultrasound in Kenya and provided insights on models for scaling access to obstetric ultrasound. 🫀Improving cardiovascular disease outcomes   In Kenya, we’ve trained 250+ health workers, equipped facilities, and improved referral systems. In Siaya County, 6,000+ patients have been screened using mobile ultrasound and ECGs – empowering providers to triage and manage cardiovascular risks quickly and effectively. We’re also investing in social entrepreneurs, such as Healthy Entrepreneurs and GOAL 3, across East Africa who are innovating alongside local health systems to drive lasting impact. As we look ahead to the next decade, we remain committed to innovation, collaboration, and building healthier futures. 👉 Learn more about Philips Foundation’s work and impact in Sub-Saharan Africa: https://lnkd.in/eAjZr6Cx

Starting August 1, Bahaa Eddine Sarroukh will succeed Margot Cooijmans as Director of Philips Foundation. Marnix van Ginneken, Chair of the Board of Philips Foundation: “I would like to thank Margot for her commitment to the Philips Foundation. The Foundation would not be where it is today without her. At the same time, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Eddine. We look forward to the new perspectives and enthusiasm he will bring, supporting the Foundation’s mission to provide access to quality healthcare for 100 million people a year in underserved communities by 2030.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTBuG9CK

📢 Exciting news! Our 2024 Annual Report is out 👉 https://lnkd.in/etV7YQdZ In 2024, Philips Foundation helped 46.5 million people access quality healthcare. A big step up from 28 million the year before. This year also marks 10 years of Philips Foundation, and this journey has made us think about what we’re really here for. The numbers tell one part of the story, but what truly matters is the lasting change we see in people’s lives and health. Behind every data point is a mother receiving safer prenatal care, a child being diagnosed in time, or a community gaining access to a service they’ve never had before. From working with World Heart Federation to bring rheumatic heart disease care closer to communities, to training frontline health workers in ultrasound with RAD-AID International. It’s about real impact, where it’s needed most. And through Philips Foundation Impact Investments, we’ve been proud to support bold, early-stage ventures such as Diagnostikare and Last Mile Care, that are changing the way healthcare is delivered in underserved settings, in regions like India and Latin America. To all our partners over the past decade: thank you. You’ve helped turn ambition into action and impact into something lasting for some of the most underserved communities across the globe. Read our release and download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ee3bbQ5U

Op 8 juli 2017 veranderde het leven van voetballer Abdelhak Nouri en zijn familie voorgoed. Tijdens een oefenwedstrijd kreeg hij een hartstilstand. Om zijn droom levend te houden – een samenleving waarin iedereen kan meedoen in een (hart)veilige omgeving – werd de Abdelhak Nouri Foundation opgericht. Met steun van Philips Foundation worden nu 34 AED’s geplaatst op belangrijke locaties in Nederland. Een eerbetoon aan Abdelhaks rugnummer 34, maar vooral een investering in buurten waar levens gered kunnen worden.   Dankzij deze samenwerking wordt niet alleen apparatuur geplaatst, maar worden ook bewoners getraind in reanimatie en het gebruik van AED’s. Zo groeit er een netwerk van mensen die samen levens kunnen redden – in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zwolle, Den Haag, Venlo en verder.   "De gedeelde visie van de Nouri Foundation en Philips Foundation vormt de basis van deze samenwerking. Met de plaatsing van 34 AED’s hopen we de toegang tot levensreddende zorg te vergroten en gemeenschappen te verbinden. Zo dragen we samen bij aan een hartveiligere omgeving voor iedereen binnen bereik." – Margot Cooijmans, Operations Director van Philips Foundation. Lees meer: https://lnkd.in/eRgCW-9d --- ENGLISH --- On July 8, 2017, the life of Dutch footballer Abdelhak Nouri and his family changed forever when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a match. To keep his dream alive – a society where everyone can participate in a heart-safe environment – the Abdelhak Nouri Foundation was established. With support from Philips Foundation, 34 AEDs are now being placed in key locations across the Netherlands. A tribute to Abdelhak’s jersey number 34, but more importantly, an investment in communities where lives can be saved. The initiative includes training residents in CPR and AED use, helping to build a growing network of lifesavers in cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zwolle, The Hague, Venlo, and beyond. “The shared vision of the Nouri Foundation and Philips Foundation forms the basis of this collaboration. With the placement of 34 AEDs, we hope to improve access to life-saving care and strengthen community connections. Together, we’re contributing to a safer environment for every heart within reach.” – Margot Cooijmans, Director Philips Foundation

Every child deserves a fighting chance — especially when facing cancer. Every year, over 10,000 children in Indonesia develop cancer — but only around 2,000 cases were officially recorded between 2021 to 2023. This gap isn’t just numbers, it reflects deep-rooted challenges in awareness, access to care, and limited availability of pediatric oncologists. At Philips Foundation, we believe in a future where every child gets the chance to grow up healthy. That’s why we’re proud to partner with World Child Cancer (WCC) to launch a new, large-scale initiative focused on early childhood cancer detection and care in Indonesia.   Here’s what we’re rolling out: 📱 A new digital health app: a go-to resource and tool designed to help doctors, parents, and the public recognize symptoms, access referral pathways, and get guidance on supportive care. 👩🏽⚕️ Training for 23,000+ healthcare workers: hands-on training and online training programs for radiologists on childhood cancer detection using ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) technologies. 🧠 An unwavering focus on awareness, early diagnosis & timely treatment for childhood cancer. This initiative marks a major step forward in our mission to expand access to quality healthcare and reduce disparities in childhood cancer care. Through our partnership with WCC, and in collaboration with the Prinses Máxima Centrum voor kinderoncologie and healthcare institutions across Indonesia, we’re showing what’s possible when we work together to improve people’s lives. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZqP_NnH #HealthForAll #ChildhoodCancer #AccessToCare

Since 2014, Philips Foundation has been on a mission to improve access to healthcare – both globally and locally. 🌏    In India, we’re focusing on preventive healthcare, early diagnostic solutions, and health education to reduce the disease burden and create lasting impact. 🚼 Fighting childhood pneumonia  Working with Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children India) and ZMQ Development, we helped local healthcare workers to develop new, low-cost solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and management of childhood pneumonia.  The result? A significant drop in the percentage of children with acute respiratory infection symptoms in in the areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. ❤️ Expanding cardiovascular care  Partnering up with NCD Alliance India, we’re rolling out an innovative cardiovascular disease care model, using tele-electrocardiogram and point-of-care ultrasound technologies. This will enable earlier diagnosis and better doctor-patient connectivity, improving healthcare access for 480,000+ people in remote communities. And we’re just getting started! With many new projects in the pipeline, the next decade holds immense potential to close healthcare gaps, improve access, and elevate the standard of care for millions. 👉 Learn more about Philips Foundation’s work and impact in India: https://lnkd.in/eFgHn3NA

Did you know that in the Netherlands, people in the lowest 20% income group have a life expectancy that is, on average, more than 9 years shorter than those in the highest 20% income group? Even more alarming, the difference in healthy life expectancy exceeds 21 years. And this gap is only growing. At Philips Foundation, we believe urgent action is needed. That’s why we’ve joined forces with GelijkGezond, a Dutch non-governmental organization, to increase the number of healthy life years for people with a minimum income – aligning perfectly with our mission to drive positive change for those with limited access to care. Many of the challenges that people bring to their general practitioners can largely be solved in the social domain –- such as lack of (healthy) housing, unemployment, debt, health issues, mental challenges, loneliness, and poverty. Yet, the current healthcare system often overlooks these factors.  Together with Stichting GelijkGezond, we provide structural support by equipping professionals with more time, financial flexibility, and organizational capacity to address these issues holistically.  With GelijkGezond, experienced healthcare managers have developed a model to ensure financial support for patients stuck in the system. This initiative has already secured a multi-million-euro subsidy, paving the way for real, lasting change. The transformation plan for launching GelijkGezond was recently approved, marking a significant milestone. We are proud to support this initiative – because access to healthcare should never depend on income. 📖 You can read more about how people remain stuck in the current healthcare system in the Netherlands in this article from Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch): https://lnkd.in/eX6wTUFS .

For the past decade, Philips Foundation has been dedicated to reducing healthcare disparities and ensuring better care for those who need it most. By tailoring our initiatives to local challenges, we strive to make a lasting impact. In China, we have been combatting disparities in maternal healthcare and heart disease treatment between urban and rural communities.  🤰🏻 Preventable neonatal deaths account for a staggering 75% of total neonatal deaths in rural China.  --> To address this, we partnered with the Chinese Red Cross Foundation and Tsinghua University to introduce high-risk pregnancy referral cards that empower expectant mothers in rural communities to identify potential pregnancy risks, adopt healthy behaviours, and seek timely medical care. 🫀 And did you know that China has one of the highest heart disease death rates in the world?  --> Through our Heart-Safe Campus project, we’re not only providing access to AEDs but also raising awareness and training individuals in CPR and the use of defibrillators across the Peking Union Medical College campus and beyond, improving emergency resuscitation and saving lives.    As we look ahead to the next decade, we remain committed to innovation, collaboration, and building healthier futures. 👉 Learn more about Philips Foundation’s work and impact in China: https://lnkd.in/epwqx_nH

Over the last decade, we at Philips Foundation have been dedicated to creating meaningful change in healthcare access, both globally and locally. 🌍   In the Asia-Pacific region, underserved communities can include urban populations in growing cities, remote Indigenous populations, low-income rural farmers with limited healthcare access, and elderly individuals in depopulated rural areas of Japan. By addressing critical challenges such as poor heart health and barriers to care, we aim to drive sustainable, long-term improvements in patient outcomes.   While our initial efforts centered on short-term aid, we now prioritize scalable, long-term solutions that create enduring impact. For instance:  🩺 In Japan, we set out region-specific programs addressing issues like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sleep disorders, and oral health, working closely in collaboration with local governments and experts to meet community needs. 💓 Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a life-threatening but preventable condition, with high prevalence in the Philippines and Indonesia. In partnership with the World Heart Federation, we are enhancing awareness, diagnosis, training and healthcare access. This project includes screening 6,000 children using Philips’ handheld ultrasound devices, which are more effective than traditional stethoscopes, as well as educating teachers to promote early diagnosis and treatment. Looking ahead, we are expanding our efforts in Indonesia to reduce childhood cancer mortality through an innovative e-health app solution.   👉 Learn more about Philips Foundation’s work and impact in Asia-Pacific: https://lnkd.in/etu_GXrZ

Over the past 10 years, Philips Foundation has been dedicated to improving access to care for some of the most underserved communities, supporting over 300 initiatives and investing in social enterprise around the world.   In Latin America, underserved communities can include Indigenous groups in remote areas, urban poor in favelas, and rural farmers. They often face greater health inequities due to limited access to primary care, higher maternal health risks, alongside the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).   Initially, we concentrated our efforts on short-term aid. Today, we’re prioritizing scalable, long-term solutions to drive sustainable impact. For example:   🔬In partnership SAS Brasil, we created SAS Living Lab, a hub for research, innovation, and education in digital health. 🩺 Through collaboration with Información y comunicación científica. Biblioteca. FUCA we’re leveraging advanced Philips teleradiology solutions to accelerate lung cancer diagnosis in underserved and remote areas of Argentina and Paraguay, impacting over 20,000 people annually.   Latin America’s healthcare challenges are complex. By investing in innovation and collaboration, we’re working toward lasting solutions that strengthen health systems and improve lives.   👉 Learn more about Philips Foundation’s work and impact: https://lnkd.in/e5XDAY_H #HealthForAll #DecadeOfImpact