Equity and generational impact
We support Canada in creating a more equitable and accessible health system by encouraging an internal culture that is focused on equity which results in an unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of Canadians. This extends to direct partnerships with communities and stakeholders to identify significant health challenges and then working together to develop solutions that improve outcomes while creating sustained and meaningful change.
The Canadian outlook
Canada’s health system is rooted in the principle that all individuals deserve equal access to high-quality healthcare. The publicly-funded health system is a model of universal health coverage, providing relatively equitable access to physicians and hospital services across all provinces and territories through tax-funded plans. Despite a universal healthcare system, Canada faces significant health inequities, particularly among Indigenous communities, rural and remote communities, and other underserviced or vulnerable populations.
Canada has recognized these inequities and is working to better understand and address the fundamental issues at hand. Several challenges exist to create a system that provides timely and high-quality care for all Canadians. Along with its provinces and territories, Canada has made strategic decisions and investments to close gaps in health inequities and accessible care.
Healthcare challenges | Strategic investments and decisions |
|---|---|
Policy challenges for accessible and equitable healthcare - long wait times, inequitable access to services and poor outcomes for Indigenous populations and underserved communities. | The federal, provincial and territorial governments collaborated on an Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy to improve overall health outcomes and reduce health disparities. |
Access to care challenges, including fragmented care (e.g. poor data sharing). For example, 20% of rural Canadians have access to a limited number/type of health services/providers. | Health Canada is implementing the Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program, with a $13.9M budget over three years starting in 2021. |
Forced displacement of Indigenous communities onto reserves continue to impact their health and social well-being. | Canada has acknowledged key principles for action and promising practices that are evidence-based and promote health equity. |
Critical Canadian healthcare inequities
1.9x higher incidence rates of type 2 diabetes and self-rated mental illness among First Nations people living off-reserve.
Significantly higher incidences of chronic diseases, such as obesity, arthritis and high blood pressure in rural regions.
Cultivating an equitable culture
We are committed to fostering a fair and inclusive health system by integrating principles of fairness into all our endeavours. We strive to enhance the health and well-being of all Canadians – now and into the future.
Creating generational impact
Our work's broad impact on the health of Canadians and the Canadian healthcare sector is focused on equity and sustainability and guides us in developing solutions to help improve health now and for future generations.
Driven by our vision of broad and long-term impact, we prioritize sustainable development for today and tomorrow, forming the foundation of our work in improving the health and well-being of animals, humans and the planet.
Our sustainable development framework includes:
More health
More potential
More green
“We have a social and environmental responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world and healthier future. To do so, we built a holistic method focusing on three key pillars of our company that is relevant and in alignment with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.”
Communications
Our approach to sustainable development
Our approach to sustainable development also guides our efforts to tackle health inequities through sustainable solutions that can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of a community or healthcare organization.
Partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health—a regional health authority—and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to support sustainable solutions in planetary health, Indigenous health and chronic disease management.
Work with organizations to develop and implement remote care management programs for better access to care. Read about the Medly initiative.
Collaboration with the Canadian Animal Health Institute to increase access to animal health products in remote and underserved communities.
Participation in the Clean Farm Initiative to offer producers a safe disposal program for obsolete livestock and equine animal health products.
We empower our employees to explore ways they can have a personal impact on the environment or causes that are important to them.
Employees can use up to five workdays per year to volunteer for causes or organizations that are important them.
Planting trees at Boehringer Ingelheim Canada headquarters to commemorate 50 years of impact in Canada.
Meaningful change through strategic partnerships
We prioritize patients and communities, taking a proactive approach to empowering Canadians in leading initiatives relevant to their health and well-being. We have established strong partnerships with Indigenous communities across Canada, working to identify health inequities and ensure that care is available and accessible to individuals within these communities.
Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed initiatives
Alberta Boehringer Ingelheim Collaborative (ABIC) Pillar 3
Provide certified emergency medical training to community members to improve primary care and associated health outcomes in Alberta’s Indigenous populations.
Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation
Provide innovative healthcare solutions for chronic disease care within Saskatchewan’s Indigenous communities, such as co-creating a diabetes care model to improve access, care, and support, by empowering local community healthcare teams in George Gordon First Nation.
Research Manitoba
Optimize early identification and management of chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes via virtual care.
Through a variety of partnerships across multiple sectors, we’re working to ensure the right stakeholders are involved so that innovations and improvements to Canada’s healthcare system can be put into place and maintained over time.
We partnered with patients and a community hospital in Brampton, Ontario to build a remote patient monitoring program focused on improving health and disease management for a South Asian community.
We developed our Exandra initiative to bring a community of physicians and patients together to make decisions related to treatment plans and lifestyle changes.
“We’re thinking holistically and trying to understand what is most relevant for underserved communities and how we can help meet their needs.”
Policy & Patient
Access Manager
Approach
In 2017, we began working with Bimaadzwin, an Indigenous consulting firm, and Indigenous policy leaders to create an Indigenous Health Policy Framework, now known as PATHWAYS Indigenous Health Collaborations.
PATHWAYS—Indigenous Health Collaborations aims to close the gap in Indigenous healthcare disparities, improve health outcomes and advance general wellness through sustainable resources and programs.
In 2021, we launched four projects to empower 20,000 Indigenous members struggling to manage type 2 diabetes. In early 2023, we launched four more projects to address the needs of thousands more Indigenous Peoples also struggling with type 2 diabetes. Our approach reflects a commitment to co-creating sustainable solutions that address health disparities among Indigenous communities while also recognizing their unique needs and priorities.
Outcomes and impact:
Best practice for Indigenous engagement
Developing an effective policy framework to guide public-private partnerships and support Indigenous-led collaborations.
Improved access to care
Using innovative digital tools that empower Indigenous Peoples in their health journey and provide the technology to help address health challenges and improve outcomes.
Capacity building within Indigenous communities
Providing Indigenous healthcare professionals with educational support and resources to promote better health in a respectful way.
“Through our work on the Indigenous Health Policy Framework, we brought together Indigenous health policy experts and communities to inform an ethical, principled manner—focused on respect, reciprocity and relationship building—by which Boehringer Ingelheim engages with Indigenous communities in partnerships.”
Government Affairs
Approach
We spearheaded partnerships with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Central Zone PCN, TELUS Health and Health City to introduce an alternative care model using digital technology for regularly monitoring patients with COPD, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart failure.
Patients used blood pressure cuffs, weight scales and pulse oximeters to take measurements at home and report results using an online platform monitored by their health team.
Outcomes and impact:
Efficiencies with monitoring more complex patients
Improved outcomes, optimized treatment and patient self-management.
Increased patient and provider satisfaction and improved healthcare experience
Patients reported improved quality of life, including less anxiety and less discomfort, and were pleased with more timely communication from their healthcare providers.
Improved access to care.
Patients using the remote monitoring tool received more timely access to care; ~40% of flagged alerts were acknowledged on the same day and others addressed within just one or two days.
