Pharmatech and Global Health: Innovation for Access
Innovation Without Access Is Incomplete
Technology can solve many challenges—but without thoughtful design and delivery, it can also reinforce gaps. In global health, innovation must be built not only for efficacy but for adaptability. Whether in public sector supply chains or rural outpatient care, access today requires both strategic tools and system-aware implementation.
At Thrive in Pharma, we focus on enabling innovation that delivers on its promise—by aligning systems, partners, and pathways for sustainable access.
What’s Happening
Digital supply chains are improving last-mile delivery. Countries like Bangladesh and Kenya have scaled national electronic Logistics Management Information Systems (eLMIS), which integrate forecasting, inventory, and performance monitoring to minimize stockouts in public health programs (Deloitte, 2025) [1].
Telepharmacy and virtual-first models are expanding. These services are helping to overcome distance and infrastructure barriers in chronic disease management, especially where pharmacies and primary care providers are not co-located. This is particularly impactful in cardiovascular and maternal health interventions (WHO, 2024) [2].
Global frameworks for digital health are maturing. The World Health Organization’s Digital Health Atlas, now used in over 120 countries, provides an operational framework for governments and partners to align digital tools with health system goals (WHO, 2024) [2].
Why It Matters
Global access challenges are not new—but the tools we now have to address them are more scalable than ever. Still, scale without structure often leads to poor uptake or abandonment. For pharmaceutical and health systems stakeholders, this moment demands a rethink of how access programs are built, financed, and sustained.
Leaders must evaluate not just what innovations exist but how they are implemented. This includes attention to language, training, system interoperability, and long-term technical ownership.
What to Watch
Rise in government–private sector partnerships for logistics and data infrastructure
Increasing donor prioritization of digital enablement in public health
Demand for pharmacists and field leaders with dual expertise in product access and digital coordination
Thrive in Pharma Perspective
Thrive in Pharma supports global health and life sciences stakeholders by:
Conducting access audits to evaluate digital and operational readiness
Advising on cross-sector partnerships that align innovation with community health goals
Equipping professionals with the leadership, implementation, and systems thinking required for sustained delivery
In access-driven markets, the differentiator is not only the molecule. It is the model.
References
Deloitte. (2025). Global Health Care Sector Outlook 2025. Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com
World Health Organization. (2024). Digital Health Atlas: Strengthening Systems with Smart Technologies. Retrieved from https://digitalhealthatlas.org
