TECHNOLOGY
Cardiovascular disease exacts a growing toll on global public health , with most of the burden now falling on low- and middle-income countries ( LMICs ). At the same time , the trend of rapid , often unplanned urbanisation spans across regions and cultures , and will only accelerate in coming years . There ’ s a link between the two – and the Novartis Foundation is onto it .
Ann Aerts heads up the Novartis Foundation , an organisation committed to transforming the health of low-income populations by implementing population health approaches , and leveraging the power of data , digital technology and artificial intelligence to reimagine health and care around the world .
“ The Novartis Foundation is a nonprofit organisation based in Switzerland ,” she explains . “ For over 40 years , we have helped improve the health of low-income populations , initially supporting disease elimination in areas such as leprosy and malaria . Today , we focus on the world ’ s most pressing health challenges : cardiovascular disease and health inequity . We take a population health approach , which means widening the lens from a narrow focus on healthcare delivery to a panoramic vision of improving health in the population at large .”
Heart disease is raging all across the world Prior to joining the Novartis Foundation , Aerts served as Director of the Lung and Tuberculosis Association in Belgium and as Head of the Health Services Department of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva . It was Novartis ’ research into tropical diseases which drew her to the company .
“ Initially , I served in research and development roles , and now I am able to combine my passions for R & D and global
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