Filippo Lanzi, the President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and LatAm region at Haleon, emphasizes the importance of self-care in transforming healthcare and empowering individuals for better health. With his visionary approach and vast experience, Lanzi oversees strategic direction and operational execution across critical regions, driving growth and innovation for Haleon. Self-care has emerged as a vital component of healthcare, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting its integral position within the continuum of healthcare. The principles of people-centered healthcare and patient empowerment have become essential for individuals to engage proactively in their health management.
The strategic rebranding of GSK Consumer Healthcare to Haleon reflects broader shifts in the industry towards self-care practices. Haleon’s mission is focused on the widespread adoption of self-care practices, with a transition to become an independent consumer healthcare company. The name “Haleon” symbolizes sound health and sustainability, aiming to deliver better everyday health to humanity. Haleon champions the idea of individual accountability for health, contributing to easing the load on healthcare infrastructures. By advocating and facilitating self-care, Haleon stands at the forefront of creating a future where healthcare is more accessible, effective, and sustainable for all.
Barriers to self-care include low health literacy, limited investment in preventative care, and the need for policymakers and healthcare professionals to prioritize self-care. The adoption of self-care is linked to knowledge, motivation, and competencies of individuals to manage their health effectively. There is a lack of focus on preventing health conditions that could be avoided, with minimal investment in preventative care. Establishing self-care as a policy priority can incentivize regulatory reforms and empower healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to those in need. Empowering pharmacists to deliver evidence-based self-care information enables individuals to make informed decisions about their health.
Haleon’s strategic direction intersects with potential economic and quality of life benefits in the MEA region through improved self-care practices. Insights suggest economic benefits in the MENA region, with projected gains in quality-adjusted life years, productive days, and welfare increase. By making non-prescription medicines and consumer health products more accessible, significant savings can be achieved in healthcare system costs and national budgets. Globally, self-care interventions are saving costs and welfare spending, showcasing the potential impact of focusing on self-care as a critical step towards sustainable and accessible health solutions for all. As the global population grows, particularly in developing countries, the demand for consumer healthcare is set to rise, making self-care practices more crucial than ever.