Fresenius Medical Care (FME), the world’s leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases, has taken the Zero Health Gaps Pledge at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 

The Zero Health Gaps Pledge is part of the Global Health Equity Network (GHEN), which brings together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to advance a collective vision of Zero Health Gaps, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In total, 36 companies from eight countries committed to sign the first-in-kind global pledge. By taking the pledge, Fresenius Medical Care is declaring its commitment to meaningful action and collaboration toward health equity. 

“We believe that access to equitable and high-quality health care is a fundamental human right, and we are committed to working with global leaders and organizations to improve the lives of millions of people throughout the world,” said Helen Giza, CEO of Fresenius Medical Care. “We will also look inward and achieve clear, actionable steps to make our processes economically and environmentally sustainable, while increasing access to the care we provide in the global communities we serve.”

The difference in average life expectancy at birth between high- and low-income countries is glaring at 78 and 64 years respectively. Global climate and health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have heightened both the severity of these inequities and the potential consequences of inaction. The Zero Health Gaps Pledge is a direct response to the growing health disparities across the globe. 

Fresenius Medical Care has taken a number of actions to address health equity. The company’s Health Equity Dashboard provides important demographic and regional data to identify possible inequities in key patient outcomes. The goal is to tailor interventions to individuals in different locations to help ensure there are no care delivery gaps. 

“Around 3.8 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Fresenius Medical Care is passionate about the importance of closing the gaps in health equity,” said Franklin W. Maddux, MD, Global Chief Medical Officer. “We are excited to help lead the way for the international health care community by taking the Zero Health Gaps Pledge and look forward to tackling this significant challenge head on.”

Nwamaka (Amaka) Eneanya, MD, Head of Strategy and Operations for the Global Medical Office, will lead the company’s global health equity strategy including its efforts to meet the Zero Health Gaps Pledge. She will work with Mignon Early, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to ensure strategic initiatives are developed in the context of Fresenius Medical Care’s diverse employee base.

Click here to read the complete “Zero Health Gaps Pledge” including its ten key commitments, and click here to learn more about the Global Health Equity Network.