The last few years have seen the emergence of philanthropists seeking to improve equitable access to care, with aims ranging from greater availability of care providers in medically underserved areas, to lowering costs of prescription drugs. Although medical advances are made every year, it is increasingly apparent that not everybody has the same level of access to care. Specifically, the pandemic has further highlighted the need to focus on equitable access to care for all. Venture philanthropy can be invoked to lower barriers to development, expand access, and promote health equity in ways that government and industry often will not support. Examples of venture philanthropy improving access to health care can be seen in the launch of low-cost pharmacies, philanthropically supported HMOs, and venture philanthropic funds that de-risk drug development. In this session, we'll explore how venture philanthropy can enhance equitable access to health care.

Moderator

Melissa Stevens
Executive Vice President, MI Philanthropy, Milken Institute

Speakers

Allan Coukell
Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Civica RX

Alice Pomponio
Managing Director, BrightEdge and Vice President Innovation and Impact Investing, American Cancer Society

Aaron Seybert
Managing Director, Social Investment Practice, The Kresge Foundation

Geetha Tharmaratnam
Chief Impact Investment Officer, WHO Foundation