Joining the dots of healthcare via an ecosystem approach
52% of the world cannot access essential health services. Our mission is to unlock capital and the power of communities to achieve health for all.
Enabling capacity building of local health systems
We are a Singapore-based health-tech social enterprise improving access to primary care for lower-income populations residing in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our core approach involves the implementation of innovative data-informed campaigns, led by networks of digitally-equipped community Agents (comprised of upskilled local community health workers and local partner merchants). We work with firms in the pharmaceutical, consumer health, and fast-moving consumer goods sectors to mobilise financing, build capacity for local health systems, improve the availability of medicines and health products, and extend primary care services out of facilities and directly to the doors of underserved residents. Since 2016, we have engaged 1.5 million unique individuals through 14,000 reach52 Agents across 2,500 communities in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, Kenya and South Africa.
Strengthening communities from within
Our vision is to engage the 52% of people globally who lack access to essential health services, promoting equitable health outcomes for all. We work with local governments and social organisations to ensure that the health campaigns we deliver are sustainable and contribute toward strengthening local health systems in the long run. 95% of our reach52 Agents are female. We believe that by empowering local women to deliver healthcare services to their own communities, we strengthen communities from within. We also champion the important role that businesses play in this ecosystem – they provide necessary funding that goes beyond donor funds, while at the same time gaining market access opportunities and the ability to fulfil their social impact goals. This is why an important part of our mission is to unlock private capital and partnerships in order to fill the large financing gap required to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
reach52 Agent in Indonesia engaging with a community member
Data-driven and human-powered
Our organisation is driven by innovation and a desire to generate impact through bold, unique approaches.
Tech innovation: Our digital platform consists of an offline-first mobile Android app, designed specifically to be used by our community Agents in areas with low internet connectivity, along with associated web dashboards for use by clients and campaign administrators to track, analyse and make data-driven decisions. As a whole, the platform supports the development, facilitation, monitoring, and evaluation of community health interventions in rural areas of LMICs, allowing us to deliver hyper-targeted engagements based on specific demographic or health traits.
Process-based innovation: We focus on addressing health financing gaps through the mobilisation of private sector resources, under a sustainable business model. We work with a range of private sector firms to secure financial resources, along with low-cost medicines and health products, to support the facilitation of these campaigns.
Partnering for concrete impact and health outcomes
As an impact-focused business, we directly align our targets towards the achievement of the SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals). We are principally focused on SDG 3 (good health and well-being), while also contributing to SDGs 5 (gender equality and women’s empowerment) and 8 (decent work and economic growth).
Our focus is on engaging rural residents in the ‘missing middle’, referring to those that do not live in absolute poverty but are poorly served by existing options in their remote settlements. An external evaluation demonstrated that reach52's model generates US$2.10 of social value in our target communities for every US$1 invested.
To support SDG 3, we operate campaigns across a range of disease areas, and have active campaigns focusing on malnutrition, maternal and child health, COVID-19, vaccine delivery, WASH, and eye care. Some campaign-specific outcomes we’ve achieved include:
- 65% reduction in stage 2 hypertension from baseline for participants in NCD management program
- 70% of engaged mothers disconnected from care accessed ANC services following engagement with a reach52 Agent
- 78% of vaccine-hesitant residents accessed immunization services following engagement with a reach52 Agent
Our work on SDG 5 is supported by our campaigns on maternal and child health. During these 1-on-1 door-to-door engagements, trained Agents deliver health education messaging, collect vital data, and enhance linkages to local health facilities.
We are currently leading projects in partnership with Bayer Consumer Health; Johnson & Johnson; Essilor; Pfizer; and Unilever, including:
- Our continued partnership with Johnson & Johnson, with a focus on upskilling 1200 Community Health Workers and impacting over 250,000 residents across Indonesia and the Philippines through targeted engagements and screenings in four health topics: diabetes and hypertension, maternal and child health, respiratory diseases, and mental health.
- Our partnership with Unilever to improve awareness and behavior change in nutrition and WASH, targeting 120,000 residents in underserved communities in India.
- Improving awareness, demand and uptake of the COVID-19 booster, targeting 120,000 residents in the rural communities of India and Philippines
Through these business relationships, reach52 is helping these global firms translate their investments into social impact for disconnected populations, typically coupled with commercial returns for their shareholders. This win-win model underpins reach52’s approach to sustainable social business.
reach52 is a HealthTech social enterprise that aims to redesign healthcare to reach 52% of the world without access to essential health services. Powered by an award-winning, data-driven tech platform and supported by an established network of community health Agents, reach52 partners with businesses, governments, and social organisations to deliver targeted scalable health campaigns, supply affordable healthcare products, and open new markets across low-and-middle-income countries.
