This National Minority Health Month, It’s Time to Close the Care Gap

Every April, we recognize National Minority Health Month – a time dedicated to spotlighting the health disparities that continue to impact racial and ethnic minorities across our society. Unfortunately, for far too many with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and more, care gaps have become the norm, leaving those in need without the care they deserve. Just consider that today, black adults are approximately twice as likely to be hospitalized for heart failure or be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than white adults. In analyzing these statistics, it’s clear that action must be taken to break the perpetual cycle of inequities that exist in our healthcare system – breaking down silos within the healthcare industry to contribute to a healthier and more equitable future for all.

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In all of my professional roles, across different countries or organizations, I have worked diligently to find solutions that ensure health equity, which has been founded upon a deep sense of responsibility to help underserved or underrepresented patients in need. Now, as Sanofi’s Head of U.S. General Medicines, I have had the pleasure of meeting with many members of these communities directly – each, who have underscored the incredible urgency behind addressing health inequities in our society. After talking to these inspirational individuals and hearing their stories, I believe that we all have a role to play in improving health outcomes. Accordingly, below I’d like to share a few key strategies for how we – both as healthcare leaders and as citizens of the world – can bridge these longstanding divides through new tools and resources that support a healthy life for everyone.

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Acknowledging the social determinants of health

Every day, we are learning more about the social determinants of health (SDOH) and make no mistake: its impacts are equal parts wide-reaching and devastating. Hispanic women, for example, are more than twice as likely as white women to have diabetes, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. What’s more, black persons are significantly less likely than whites to receive lifesaving kidney transplants, even though they are more than 2.5 times more likely than whites to develop end-stage kidney failure. Take a moment to let these statistics sink in.

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Unfortunately, to date, many of these disparities can be traced back to social barriers impeding access to potentially life-saving medical resources. If we truly hope to make a change, we must expand access to resources that address these disparities. As an example, given the complex drug pricing landscape in the U.S., and that the price patients pay at the pharmacy counter depends on multiple factors, we believe in the need for systemic change. As part of our efforts to improve equity and access, Sanofi recently lowered the list price of some of our insulins in the U.S. This is in addition to our existing Insulins Valyou Savings Program (IVSP), which assists uninsured patients in need regardless of income level. In 2022 alone, IVSP was used over 98,000 times, underscoring the urgency behind making this treatment more accessible. But beyond treatment delivery, we’re also focused on bridging equity divides through employment and mentorship programs – recently joining the?Boldly Against Racism?Transplant Surgery Workforce Diversity Initiative to ensure that the next generation of healthcare leaders reflects their patient communities. By recognizing SDOH catalysts and taking deliberate steps to address them, we can begin the process of closing care gaps that have thwarted the pursuit of healthcare accessibility for far too long.

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Cross-collaborating to close the care gap

Of course, the pursuit of health equity is not a one-person (or a one company) job. On the contrary, lasting change will require a robust cross-collaboration effort in order to integrate inclusivity from bench to bedside. Truthfully, in the fight against healthcare inequality, we all have a role to play. By breaking down silos impeding multi-sector cooperation and instead embracing an “all for one, one for all” approach to partnership, healthcare leaders can tackle these systemic health disparities head on and make necessary care more accessible to those who need it.

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Throughout my career at Sanofi, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the power of collaboration first-hand. For example, we have an exciting collaboration with Dario, a leader in global digital therapeutics, to co-promote new technology solutions that help patients manage chronic conditions in between traditional points of care. By leveraging digital tools to make education, encouragement and support more readily accessible, we aim to arm appropriate [or omit completely] individuals with the information they need to take control of their health, consequently helping to counteract troubling spikes in chronic diseases among underserved and underrepresented populations.

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We also recently launched the Health Equity Accelerator Awards to help not-for-profit advocacy organizations in the United States expand their impact across three disease states that have significant health equity gaps – diabetes, atrial fibrillation and transplant. Through partnership programs like these, we aim to bring necessary resources to the frontlines of the fight against chronic disease, consequently helping to counteract troubling spikes in underserved and underrepresented populations.

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Thinking globally, acting locally

Health inequity may be a global issue, but we can’t overlook its impact at a local level. In fact, small-scale barriers to care can often have large-scale health impacts if left unaddressed for too long. Just consider that today, an estimated 3.6 million adults each year miss or delay care because of unavailable transportation. That’s 3.6 million missed doctors’ appointments and 3.6 million missed opportunities to get healthy – simply because they could not physically / logistically get to the appointment. To overcome these hurdles, healthcare companies would be wise to begin working directly with community leaders, who can provide much-needed insight into the challenges patients face at a local level. ?

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With this spirit in mind, Sanofi recently launched the “A Million Conversations” initiative – a new program geared toward providing a forum whereby people in underrepresented communities can make their voices heard. By running hundreds of dialogue events around the world with Black and ethnic minority groups, women, people with disabilities and more, we aim to turn feedback into action, addressing pain points long felt by marginalized groups and, consequently, rebuilding trust in healthcare companies in the process. Already, I’ve been gratified by the honest feedback we’ve received from these sessions and am energized to continue this important work in the near future.

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Final thoughts ?

While events like National Minority Health Month present a welcome opportunity to shine a spotlight on the pursuit of health equity, it’s important to remember that this work continues all-year round – not just in April. If we truly hope to make a difference, we can’t sit and wait for awareness months to get the conversation started. Instead, we must work around the clock to call attention to systemic care gaps that are continuing to disproportionately impact the most vulnerable among us. It won’t be easy – and it certainly won’t happen overnight – but as leaders in healthcare, we have a responsibility to take a stand. Will you join me in building a more equitable tomorrow?