Siemens and Siemens Healthineers developed Smart Clinics as a nonprofit program that brings basic infrastructure to countries where basic healthcare services are limited. They are currently operating in Jordan, Iraq, Colombia and Egypt.
Care in a time of crisis for Venezuelans
The Smart Clinic in La Guajira has become an important point of contact, especially for women affected by poverty. Although it was used as a mobile unit during the Covid-19 pandemic, its approximately 30 employees now focus entirely on providing health advice and care for both pregnant women and families. Migrants from Venezuela, who have increasingly been coming to Colombia since the border crossings were opened, can also benefit from access to medical check-ups and laboratory services with no red tape.
All too often, even in developed countries, where you live could determine how long you live – or even if you live.
Venezuela has been experiencing an economic crisis involving hyperinflation for years. By August 2023, some 7.7 million people had fled the country – that’s around a quarter of the total population.3 Of those, around 2.9 million live in Colombia.4 Rojas is one of them. This young woman developed complications during pregnancy and, since she had no access to medical care in her home country, she made the arduous journey to Colombia. “We know that in Latin America we are already on the verge of 700 million inhabitants – and we believe that a large part of this population doesn’t have access to quality healthcare,” says Francisco Vélez, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Colombia.
Rojas’ new home, Colombia, is currently undergoing health reform as part of a series of proposals from President Gustavo Petro’s government aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. The reform seeks, among other things, to expand primary care, train health workers and strengthen hospital infrastructure5 – three measures that essentially reflect the wider challenge of healthcare access.
A local solution to a global challenge
Limited access to healthcare and diagnostic medical testing is a common plight for many families in low- and middle-income countries the world over, especially in remote areas. All too often, even in developed countries, where you live could determine how long you live – or even if you live. Improving the lives of underserved patients like Rojas calls for innovative ways to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all.
To that end, Siemens Healthineers is using its skills, partnering with stakeholders, implementing new digital solutions across the health continuum, employing flexible financing and business models, and developing devices with fewer infrastructure requirements. Healthcare workforce education is also crucial for capacity building as a basis for healthcare access. To this end, Siemens Healthineers provides education and dedicated training to deliver high standards of service and patient care.
