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Mar 14, 2025
By the Philips Foundation team
For over a decade, Philips Foundation has worked to improve healthcare access for underserved communities by bringing disease detection, prevention and better care closer to those who need it most. With more than 300 initiatives, and a growing portfolio of social enterprise investments, the Foundation’s impact today is both immediate and lasting.
In every country, the Foundation tailors its efforts to address specific local issues. In China’s rural communities, access to healthcare remains a significant challenge [1], with fewer doctors, nurses, and hospital beds per person compared to their urban counterparts. Migrant workers from rural areas face additional hurdles in obtaining primary care in cities, partly due to high out-of-pocket costs. As a result, many individuals from these communities do not receive timely care or cannot access preventive services. Improving rural maternity care Maternal and child healthcare is a key area in China where significant health disparities exist between urban and rural populations, with preventable neonatal deaths accounting for a staggering 75% of total neonatal deaths in rural areas of China [1]. To help address this issue and improve healthcare access, Philips Foundation, in collaboration with the Chinese Red Cross Foundation and Tsinghua University, has created high-risk pregnancy referral cards — also successfully implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa — to help mothers in rural communities identify potential pregnancy risks, adopt healthy behaviors, and seek timely medical care. By empowering expectant mothers to take control of their care, these cards play a pivotal role in protecting the health of both mother and baby. “The pilot program of pregnancy referral cards in Western China is poised to positively impact maternal and child health conditions in our country’s western regions. Particularly through the integration of projects with scientific research, it will generate evidence-based findings, providing empirical support and policy backing for enhancing public health standards in rural China,” says Kun Tang, Associate Professor at the Tsinghua University Vanke School of Public Health.
Creating a heart-safe zone China has one of the highest heart disease death rates in the world, accounting for 45% of adult deaths in China. Worryingly, cardiovascular events, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, are projected to increase by 50% among the population between 2010 and 2030 [2]. Due to inequities in access to care, this increase is expected to disproportionately impact rural populations. To foster the development of emergency rescue systems, the Peking Union Medical College has installed Philips AEDs across its campus. In addition to providing access to AEDs, the Heart-Safe Campus project aims to spread awareness and equip individuals with skills around CPR and the use of defibrillators, improving campus emergency rescue capabilities.
Together with the Philips Foundation, we are committed to advancing innovation across the entire care pathway – from imaging and image-guided therapy to seamless patient monitoring and post-treatment follow-up – so that more patients receive the right care at the right time.
Ling Liu
Chief Region Leader of Philips in Greater China
Over the next year, at least 20% of the 20,000 staff and students at PUMC will receive CPR training. Information about the AEDs is also shared through various on campus events and activities. Since students and staff often transition to roles in hospitals and medical centers nationwide, the knowledge gained on campus has the potential to extend beyond the university itself. Ling Liu, Chief Region Leader of Philips in Greater China said, “As cardiovascular disease continues to rise in China, early detection, precise diagnosis, and effective treatment have never been more critical. Together with the Philips Foundation, we are committed to advancing innovation across the entire care pathway – from imaging and image-guided therapy to seamless patient monitoring and post-treatment follow-up – so that more patients receive the right care at the right time.” Ling continued: “Beyond technology, we believe real impact comes from empowering people and expanding access. That’s why we are proud to collaborate with partners such as Peking Union Medical College and the China Red Cross Foundation, not only to enhance clinical capabilities but also to bring life-saving knowledge and resources to more communities. From heart health initiatives in urban centers to programs improving maternal care in Western China, we remain committed to making a tangible difference in people’s lives across the country.”
Immediate and enduring impact "The Foundation’s impact in China is both immediate and enduring. Together with our partners, we are relentlessly committed to saving lives, building healthier futures, and driving sustainable change. I look forward to the next decade of impact," says Margot Cooijmans, Director of the Philips Foundation.
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